VICKSBUKG 


A  POEM. 


C.   A.    HO  BBS,    A.  M., 

FIRST  SERGEANT  COMPANY  B,  NINETY-NINTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


CHICAGO: 

J.     FAIRBAN  KS    &    CO, 
1880- 


•COPYRIGHTED. 
FAIRBANKS     &     C  O . 

iSSo. 


BTKAX  PRESS   OT 

CUBBING,  THOMAS  i  CO., 

ClliCAQO 


FROM     WHOM 
CAME     EVER     INSPIRATION     AND     ENCOURAGEMENT, 

I     AFFECTIONATELY     INSCRIBE 
MY     ONLY     POETICAL     WORK. 

C.    A.    H. 


PREFACE. 


IT  is  not  without  hesitation  that  the  author  gives  this  poem 
to  the  public.  That  it  has  fallen  far  below  his  own  ideal,  pre 
pares  him  to  admit,  what  doubtless  all  can  see,  imperfections  in 
it  neither  small  nor  few. 

But  he  has  sought  to  present  a  faithful  picture  of  that  cam 
paign,  greatest  in  our  civil  war  ;  and  especially  to  make  vivid 
the  life  of  the  soldiery  during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 

He  has  sought  accuracy  in  the  historical  account,  and  believes 

O  J 

he  has  succeeded.  To  do  this,  however,  he  has  occasionally  in 
troduced  facts,  hitherto  unpublished,  and  which  in  one  case,  at 
least,  corrects  a  statement  made  by  Badeau  in  his  "Military  Life 
of  Gen.  Grant."  The  large  majority  of  incidents  contained  in 
the  poem,  are  drawn  from  life  ;  and  where  otherwise,  they 
are  in  entire  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the  great,  sad  scenes 
which  pass  here  before  the  eye. 

And  the  author  wishes  to  make  a  confidant  of  the  reader,  so 
far  as  to  say,  that  the  poem  was  most  difficult  to  begin.  There 
were  so  many  good  points  of  departure  that  he  is  not  sure  now 


he  has  selected  the  best.  But,  after  consideration  he  chose  the 
time  when  transports  successfully  ran  the  the  blockade  of  Vicks- 
burg,  because  it  was  an  enterprise  wholly  new  in  war,  and  was 
in  reality  the  last  beginning  of  the  triumphant  end.  All 
previous  campaigns  against  the  city  are  briefly  summed  up  in 
the  opening  pages,  and  the  spirit  of  contemptuous  ridicule  visited 
upon  Gen.  Grant  by  the  Confederate  authorities,  indicated.  Ex 
tended  notes  have  not  been  possible,  but  a  few  words  of  explana 
tion  will  be  found  occasionally,  and  the  author  wishes  to  say  in 
this  connection,  that  the  poem  will  be  best  understood  by  those 
most  familiar  with  the  details  of  the  Vicksburg  campaign. 

The  music  to  the  lullaby  has  been  furnished  by  his  old  instruc 
tor  and  present  friend,  O.  L.  CASTLE,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  Belle 
Lettres  and  Latin,  Shurtleff  College,  Upper  Alton,  111.,  and 
whose  kindly  and  valuable  assistance  in  other  directions  he  is 
here  grind  to  acknowledge. 

O  O 

And  finally :  It  has  been  very  far  from  the  author's  purpose 
that  the  interest  of  the  poem  should  depend  wholly  upon  the 
subject  chosen.  But  whether  he  has  succeeded  in  adding  anv- 
thing  beyond  this,  he  now  submits  to  the  public  for  decision. 

BAT  A  VIA,  ILL.,  June,   iSSo.  C.  A.  H. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


PART    FIRST. 

HOOK  i. — Introductory  Lines.--A  Night  Scene — Pemterton  and  Officers  in 
Council — Grant's  Plans  Loudly  Ridiculed — Heavy  Cannonading  In 
terrupts  a  Toast  to  his  Defeat,  and  they  go  'Forth  to  Witness  the  First 
Passage  of  Transports  Before  Their  Batteries — Scene  Described. 

BOOK  2. — Night  of  22d  of  April,  1863. — Pemberton  Still  Perplexed  at  the 
Federal  Movements. — Second  Fleet  of  Transports — His  Chagrin  and 
Wrath. — Begins  to  Understand  Grant's  Purpose. 

BOOK  3. — New  Carthage,  La. —  Scene  in  the  Federal  Camp. — Soldiers  Con 
versing. — Their  Experience  in  the  Swamps  of  Louisiana  Narrated — 
Federal  Description  of  "  Running  the  Rebel  Batteries. — Poem,  "A  Call 
for  Volunteers." — Is  War  Ever  Right? — Decision  that  the  War  for  the 
Union  is  Whollv  Just. ' 

BOOK  4. — Tribute  to Vicksburg — Pemberton's  Purpose  to  Reinforce  Bowen 
at  Grand  Gulf  Changed  bv  Sherman's  Feint  from  the  North — Dis 
covers  the  Feint  When  Too  Late — Is  Startled  by  Tidings  of  a  Battle 
Between  the  Federal  Forces  and  the  Grand  Gulf  Garrison,  Near  Port 
Gibson  —  Dispatches  Johnston  for  Aid. 

BOOK  5. — The  Federal  Camp— Description  of  the  March  from  Perkins' 
Plantation — The  Bombardment  of  Grand  Gulf;  and  the  March  Inland, 
after  Landing  at  Bruinsburg,  Miss. — Incidents:  A  Soldier  Drowned — 
A  Poem,  "Out  of  th§  Darkness,  a  Voice" — A  Negro  Patriarch's  Bless 
ing  at  Midnight. 


PART  SECOND. 

•  BOOK  i. — Review — Grant  on  the  Gunboat  at  Grand  Gulf— The  Immortal 
Decision  on  which  Hinged  the  Destiny  of  the  Nation — The  Crisis  Passed 
— Vicksburg  Must  Fall ! 

BOOK  2. — A  Glance  at  Both  Armies — Grant's  Dispatches  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  That  He  Would  Not  Communicate  with  Grand  Gulf  tor  Many 
Days — Bears  Date  May  11,  1863,  or  the  Same  Date  as  that  from  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  Received  Long  Afterward,  Directing  Him  to  Co-operate 
With  Gen.  Banks  Against  Port  Hudson — Rebels'  Mistaken  Estimate  ot 
Grant's  Design — Pemberton  Marches  Out  of  Vicksbnrg  With  Heavy 
Force,  in  a  Vain  Effort  to  Find  Grant's  Base — Is  Imperatively  Ordered 
to  J^oin  Johnston,  and  is  Struck  in  the  Movement  by  the  Advance  of 
the  Federal  Army,  Returning  from  the  Capture  of  Raymond  and  Jack 
son. 

BOOK  3. — A  Statement  of  Grant's  Movements — The  Armies  Gather  Cen 
trally  Toward  Champion  Hill — Battle  of  Champion  Hill  Described. 

BOOK  4. — The  Pursuit  of  Pemberton's  Beaten  Army. 

BOOK  5.— The  Sabbath  Battle— Poem,  "Sabbath  Bells" — Grant  Receives 
the  Order  from  Washington  Bearing  Date  May  u,  Instructing  Him 
to  Unite  His  Forces  With  Those  of  Gen.  Banks  Below  Port  Hudson- — 
Orders  Instead  the  Battle  of  Big  Black  River— The  Charge— The  Cap 
ture — Destruction  of  the  Bridge  Over  the  River  by  the  Enemy — Build 
ing  Bridges  Aftei  the  Victory. 

BOOK  6. — Closing  in  on  Vicksbuig — Confusion  in  the  City — The  Surviving 
Three  Pieces  of  Artillery,  Which  Win  in  the  Long  Race,  and  Get 
Back  to  the  Works — Pemberton's  Successful  Effort  to  Rally  His  Men — 
Federal  Advance — Sherman  at  Haines'  Bluff — His  Emotion  at  Behold 
ing  the  Scene  of  His  Former  Failure — His  Tribute  to  Grant. 

PART  THIRD. 

BOOK   i. — The   Loval   River,    and    the   Site  of   Vicksburg    Described — The 

8 


River's  Soliloquy — Federal  Advance  Drives  the  Enemy  into  His  Works 
— Experience  of  a  Certain  Regiment — Bloodv  Scenes. 

BOOK  2.— Grant  Determines  to  Assault  the  Citv  All  Along  the  Lines- 
Porter's  Part  in  the  Attack — The  Charge  of  the  226  of  May  as  Seen  by 
Generals  Grant,  Sherman  and  McClernand — The  Sad  Repulse. 

BOOK  3. — The  Federal  Camp — Scenes  in  the  Trenches  Three  Weeks  after 
the  Charge — Visit  of  Citizens  to  the  Army,  and  Among  These,  Citizen 
ffear.y,  to  See  His  Friend,  Sergeant  Mars — Desires  to  Learn  the  Life 
of  a  Soldier — Is  Dulv  Initiated — Doesn't  Sleep  Good  on  the  Hard  Bed 
— Is  Told  to  Pocket  the  "  minie "  that  Visited  His  Couch — Discusses 
the  Charge — Thinks  He  Could  Have  Managed  it  Better — Wants  to 
Kno\v  Why  it  Failed. 

BOOK  4. — The  Charge  Described  by  the  Sergeant — Its  Fierce  Character — 
Destruction  of  Life — Entangled  in  the  Vines  and  Hindered  bv  Abrupt 
and  Precipitous  Ravines — Rebels  turn  to  fly — Rallied  bv  their  Officers, 
and  Are  Heavily  Reinforced — All  of  the  Sergeant's  Regimental  Field- 
Officers  Wounded  and  Taken  From  the  Fight — Command  Given  Which 
the  Ground  Made  Impossible  to  Obev — Another  Command  Not  Thor- 
otighlv  Understood — Scattered  Troops — The  Regiment  in  Advance 
of  Most  of  the  Brigade,  and  Far  Ahead  of  the  Remainder  of  the  Divis 
ion — Flag  Captured — Seventy-five  Men  Answer  to  the  Roll  Call,  on  the 
Hillside,  of  the  Tivo  Hundred  and  Forty  Who  Went  into  the  Fight — 
Counter  Charge  of  the  Enemy  Repulsed  by  These,  Led  on  by  a  Cap 
tain  Who  Received  the  Command  —  The  Sergeant  Returns  from  a 
Place  Under  the  Rebel  Forts  After  Nightfall— Flag  of  Truce— The 
Startling  Call  to  Dinner. 

BOOK  5. — The  Education  of  Citizen  Hearty  Continues — Picket  Before  the 
Enemy — With  the  Reserve — Poem,  "  Picket  in  Arkansas  " — Discussion 
as  to  the  Influence  of  War  Upon  Character — Interruption:  "A  Shot  at 
the  Front" — A  Picket  Demoralized  by  a  Shot  on  the  "Crazy  Bone"- 
Laughter — A  Storv  bv  Jollv  Man — Shells  from  Porter's  Mortar  Fleet 
Observed — Pickets  Delighted — Scene  Described. 


BOOK  6. — Cave  Life  in  Vicksburg — War  vs.  The  Home — A  Mother  and 
Two  Children  at  the  Entrance  of  a  Cave — Wise  Mabelle  oi"  Four  Years 
is  asking  Her  Mother  Strange  Questions — Their  Conversation— Ma- 
belle's  Discovery  of  "  Falling  Stars,''  or  the  Fuse-burning  Shells  of 
Porter — A  Shell  Falls  Near  By — Alarm  of  Mabelle — Babe  Awakes  and 
Cries — Mabelle's  Farther  Questions  —  Another  Shell — Mabelle's  Re 
quest  for  a  Lullaby — "By  and  By,''  or  the  Mother's  Song  to  Her  Chil 
dren. 

BOOK  7. — Federal  Camp — Life  in  the  Trenches — Death  of  Two  Soldiers — 
Sergeant  Mars  on  "Fatigue''  —  Takes  Citi/en  Hearty  Along — The 
Couch  on  Grape  Shot — Spades! — The  Advance  Rifle  ['it — Swift  Work 
ers — Texas  Rifle  Balls — Trench  Finished — Hearty's  Resolve. 

BOOK  S. — Hearty's  Education  Progressing — Walks  to  the  Springs  With 
Sergeant  Mars — Card-playing! — The  Spring! — Danger  From  Our  Siege 
Pieces — Mine  Before  Logan  to  Be  Sprung. 

BO:>K  <). — InihcC-ty — -Cave  Life  Again — Mabelle'?.  Father  Brought  Back 
Slightly  Wounded  and  Sick — Is  Discouraged  and  Wants  Pemberton  to 
Surrender — A  Tall,  Angular  Woman  Calls  Him  a  Coward — Bids  Him 
Give  His  Gun  to  Women,  Who  Will  Fight— He  Oilers  To  Do  So— Wo 
man  Leaves  in  Disgust — The  Terrible  Explosion — Heavy  Firing  Along 
the  Line — Woman  Returns — Wants  to  be  Protected — Soldier  Seeks  to 
Return  to  His  Command — Faints  on  the  Way — Learns  of  the  Failure 
of  Logan's  Mine. 

BOOK  10. — Sergeant  Mars  and  the  Company  to  Which  He  Belongs  Are 
"Supports''  to  the  Men  in  the  Rifle  Pit — Citizen  Hearty,  Tired  Out, 
Remains  on  the  Hillside,  Safe — A  great  Rain  ! — Citizen  Hearty  Drowned 
Out — Climbs  the  Hill  Where  Sergeant  Mars  is  Stationed — Is  the  Object 
of  Jests — Is  Offended,  but  Appeased  by  Appeal  to  the  Harder  Lot  of  the 
Men  in  Logan's  Front,  in  the  Crater — Jolly  Man  Called  For — Stores: 
"Milking  in  Missouri,"  "Missouri  Bears,"  "Hit  Him  on  the  Wrong 
End'' — Interrupted  by  Story  of  the  Picket — Strange  News — Hearty  a 
Sharpshooter! — He  Shoots  a  Horse! — Disastrous  Result — Will  Not 
Wade  in  the  Mud  of  the  Trench  and  Retires  Disgusted — His  Expert- 


ence  at  the  Wash  Sheds — Hears  of  an  Unwelcome  Animal  that  Runs> 
on  Man's  Flesh — Is  Disgusted  with  War,  Since  it  Cannot  be  Waged 
with  Decency— Mars  Points  out  a  g — y — b — k  On  His  Clothing — It  is 
too  much — Hearty  Takes  his  Final  Departure  From  Camp. 

BOOK  ii. — Johnston's  Camp  —  The  Disheartening  Tidings  —  Famine  in 
Vicksburg — The  Inflexible  Grant  Holds  His  Own — "The  Few,  Great, 
Weighty,  Last  Days  of  the  Siege!" 

BOOK  12. — In  the  Citv — The  Cave— Mabelle  Goes,  Unknown  to  Her  Pa 
rents,  After  a  Drink  of  Cool  Water  for  Her  Papa — Is  Fatally  Wounded 
By  a  Piece  of  Shell  From  a  Ten  Pounder  Carelessly  Dropped  by  Con 
federate  Soldiers  Under  the  Impression  that  it  was  a  Fuse  and  Non- 
explosive — Death  Scene — Brief  Funeral  Service  bv  Aged  Pastor — His 
Words  Interrupted  by  a  Soldier  Passing  by  With  the  Cry : 

"  Pcmberton's  surrendered — -the  fighting's  done! 
The  white  flag's  out  and  Gnmt  the  day  has  won!" 

Sad  Words  of  the  Mother,  While  Are  Heard  Afar  the  Cheers  of  the 
Federals. 

BOOK  13. —  A  Triumphant  Paean  for  the  Double  Victory  East  and  West— 
The  Fourth  of  July  Consecrated  Anew — Living  and  Dead — Aye,  Even 
the  Continentals,  Who  Unfurled  Our  Flag,  Interested  in  the  Grand 
Triumph — The  Entrv  Into  Vicksburg — Logan's  Division  Given  the 
Place  of  Honor  and  Proudly  Leads  the  Way. — ''Thus  Ours  Was  the 
Gallant  City!" 

II 


VICKSBURG. 


OUR!    great  in  deeds  before  unknown 

to    war, 
rfc 


Noontide   of    that    dread    strife    that 

brought    near    doom 
The  latest  born  of  nations,  I  would  sing 
First;  where  in  equal  rivalry  great  deeds 
Contend. 


' J 


Lo!    Vicksburg  calm  upon    her    hills, 
Unconquered    waits,    stern  mistress     of  the    wave, 
That    inland   sweeps    its    loyal    current   on, 
Chafing   and    vexed,    to   seek    the    unfettered    sea.  - 

Hid    now   her    trench-scarred    sloping    terraces 
In    early    gathering    gloom,    where    low    and    black, 
Night    sweeps    her    wing    of    reeking    plume    atar, 
Scatt'ring    a    fine    mist    o'er    the    land. 

Secure 

They    guard    the    lofty    heights    to    whom    the    task 
Belongs,    and    the    commander    and    the    lew, 
His    chosen    leaders,    sit   in    council    safe, 
And    'gratulations    oft    and    oft    repeat 
O'er   him,    the   ever    persevering    Grant, 
Defeated    as    they   deem. 
And    Pemberton : 
u  We  Ve    checked    the    enemy's    advance    again  ! 

His    gunboats   pushed    their    way    along   Yazoo 

> 

14 


And  Bayou  Steele,  and  Cyprus  Lake,  and  reached 
The  Rolling  Fork  by  tortuous  stream,  and  sought 
To  pierce  our  lines  above  Haines'  Bluff. 

And    thus 

Success    were    his    if    reached    Yazoo    again, 
But    in    Big    Sunflower's    sluggish    bed    we    stopped 
His    labored    way,    and    drove    him    back. 

What    next 
Will    he    contrive  ?  " 

"•  Some    plan,11    an   aid    replies, 
•"  To    reach    us    safe    without    our    reaching    him. 
A    flight    above    is    his    best    course    I    ween. 

O 

Our    guns    are    not    so    trained    to    reach    him    there. 
If    he    but    man    balloons    with    heavy    force, 
And    hither    drop    his   rlfty    thousand    men, 
I    fear    we    should    be    taken    by    surprise ; 
Aught    less    than    this    need    not    astonish    us." 
And    as    in    childhood's   games    the    eager   boy 
Snatches    the    ball    ere    other   outstretched   hands 

15 


Succeed,    so    is    the    jovial    theme    caught    up 
Amid    its    wordy    flight. 

"  Nay,    he    may    dig 

A    tunnel    hither    from    yon    swamps.       The    force 
The    river    drove    from    that    canal    may    turn 
Their    spades    with    equal    prorit    to    such    task. 
Has    he    not    sought    to    fashion    nature    over 
And    readjust    the    rivers    through    the    land  ? 
This    puny    mimic    of    the    Titans    old 
Still    dares    Titanic    deeds  !       If    such    his    plans 
A    thousand    more    as    futile    may    remain." 
To    these    their    chief    in    juster    mood    replied: 
u  If    you    were    sent    to    capture    Vicksburg    here, 
What  deep   laid   plan   were   yours  ?      It    may  not   be 
Alone    the    foeman's    fault    he    fails    to    gain 
A   foot   hold,    front    or    rear.       Gibraltar    this, 
Of  all    that    thus    are    named    the    strongest    far. 
Bayou    and    lake    and    river    gird    us    round 
And    lofty    heights    with    works    invulnerable, 

16 


Planned    and    replanned    by    skill   nowhere   surpassed. 
Not    grim    Sevastopol    could    equal    this. 
I    trow    I  'd    rather    hold    the    place    than    take    it !  " 
Unchecked,    but    changed     by    these    grave    words, 

the    stream 

Flowed    sprightly    still,    and    thus    another    spake: 
''  And   hold    with    ease    while    still    the    enemy 
Goes   plunging   through   our  tangled  swamps.     Canal 
He    cannot    use,    nor    finish,    for    that    matter. 
Our    Tiber    fights    oar    battles    well.      Moon    Lake, 

o 

Cold    Water,    Tallahatchie    join,    and   now 

The    streams    which    clasped    in    warm    embrace    the 

foe 

Deserve    enshrining.       Here !    a    toast    to    these, 
The    gods,    aye,    great    or    small,    the    river    gods 
Who    fight    for    Vicksburg,    with   defeat   to   Grant ! " 

Loud    rang    the    jocund    shout,    and    ready    hand 
Obeyed   the    will,    nor   heard    they    deep   and   far 


The    sentry    gun    upon    the    upper    hills 
Hurl    out    its    angry    challenge    to    its    foe. 
First    Pemberton    the    notes    of    war   perceived, 
As    oft    the    shock    of    pulsing    thunder    smote 
Above    the    sound    of    mirth,    and    sternly    spoke: 
"  Silence  !      What    means    that    battery's    salute  ? 
The  guns  along  the   river's  front  seem   all  engaged! 
Go    quickly,    bring    me    word." 

And    quick    he   went; 

But    swifter    than    he    went    he    swift    returned 
Nor    tarried    with    his    message.     "7Tis    a    tieet  ! 
Haste,    haste    and    see !       The    enemy    appears. 
Boats    iron    ribbed    and    belching    fiery    death 
Lie    low    upon    the    river,    while    there    hug 
The   far   shore    transports    light,   revealed    by    gleam 
Of    cannon's    flaming    mouth.''1 

Astonished    much, 

Each    silence    kept,    till    soon    his    speech    he    found. 
And    Pemberton: 

18 


"  What,    safe  ?      Our    heavy    guns 
Should   blow   them   from   the  stream  !     It  cannot  be 
Gunboats   may    dare    our   long   blockade,    but    not 
The    river    boats    that    only    float    on    waves 
Peaceful    and    safe." 

"  To    see    is  to   believe," 
The    aid    replied. 

And    forth    they   passed   to   view 
A   scene  that    war,    tho'    artist,    tried    and  old, 
Skillful    with    pencil    (dipped    albeit    in    blood 
Alway),    and    painting    pictures    sad    and    grand 
Or    red    with    cruelty,    nor    painting    two 
Alike,    ne'er   equaled    in    his    youth    or    prime; 
Night    was    the    canvas,    lit    by    cannon's    flame! 

Black    o'er    a    surging    river    hung    a    heaven 
That    gleamed   anon   with    redder    stars    than    e'er 
Flamed    splendor    earthward;    sudden    meteor    lights 
Unorbited,    and    fading    instantly; 

19 


Comets    from    chaos    born   with    circling   path 
And    trail    of  flame,    did    seem   to   strand   themselves 
And    burn    their   hearts    out,    yonder    on    the    hills. 
And    shapes    on    shore    but    guessed    at,    indistinct, 
Dim    shadowy    outlines,    demons    dark    of    wrath, 
Took    on    the    sudden    form    of    lightnings    fierce 
And    sounded    thund'rous,   terrible,    till    earth 
Trembled.       The    air    in    palpitations    beat 
Its    fear,  and   wavVing   shrieks  and    stern    commands 
Jostled    th'    infernal    whistling    screams    of    things, 
That   shot  in   unmarked   paths   their  unseen    weights, 
Resistless    voices,    taught    their    speech    in    Hell. 
And    all    the    city    felt    the    black    imp's    breath, 
Whose    heavy    wing    low    drooped     on    shore    and 

stream. 

And    then    the    sudden    splendor ! 
Light    on    bluff, 

And   by   the   blazing   boat    upon    the   wave ! 
Till  passed  the  weird   and  ghostly   fleet,  and  passed 


The   dread    surprise   that   froze   all   hearts    with   fear. 
Back    to    their    council    room    they    silent    passed, 
Nor    soon    the    former    quip    and   jest    resumed. 
And    gravely    Pemberton : 

"  What    number    these, 
The    transports  ?  " 

"  Three    or    four,"    an    aid    replied, 
"  That    passed    us    safe,    and    one    destroyed." 

"  And    what 
Their    purport  ?  " 

"'Tis    another    of    Grant's    plans." 
"  Nay,"    said    a    third,    "  the    Blunderer    has    hope 
In    happy    blundering    to    find    escape 
From    certain    doom." 

"  111    reasoned,"    Pemberton 
Made    answer;     "yet    amid    conjectures    all, 
He    means,    I    think,    but    this,    to    get    supplies. 
His    troops    below    have   seemed    on    forage    bent ; 
And    then,    beside,    such   act    would   tend    to   keep 
In    other    minds    the    thought    of    something    done." 


*  The   mazy   labyrinth   of  winding   stream 
And   spreading  flood,  untangled   was   at   last.' 


The  "thick- lipped  mortar." — PART  I,  Book  5. 

PART  I.— BOOK  2. 

AR     is     the    game    of    guess.       This 

known  and  that 
Conjectured,     then     the    march,     the 

battle    won, 

Or    else    the    place   and    march    and    battle    lost. 
Guessing    the    best    or    worst,    doth    win    or    lose. 
Write    "incompleteness    somewhere"    on    each    plan 
Of  conflict    since    men    gathered    armies.     Lo! 
Courage     oft    fails,    leagued    with    a   limping    guess, 
And   feebleness    hath  won   where  guess  was  hale. 


He    wisest    is,  whose    guesses    straightest    fly 
From    peak    to    peak  of  knowledge,   o'er    a    sea 
Unknown    between.       Great    captains    those  who  see 
The   peaks.      But    they    who    go    peak  hunting,  lack 
The    stamp    of    greatness;     they   who  look  and  look, 
In    the    still    hour    before    the    strife   and    storm, 
And    see    no    point    uplifted    as    a    sign. 
And    such    was    Pemberton,  peak    hunting   now, 
Here,  where    before  we   saw  him    '.mid    the    night, 
O'erwhelmed    with    conflict    dread    and    new. 

A    score 

Ot"  days  and  twain  hath  April  wept  and  smiled, 
Changeful  of  moods,  now  fa v 'ring  friend,  now  foe, 
Nor  yet  hath  time  the  question  solved,  oft  asked, 
What  plan  the  fed'ral  chief  pursued. 

'Tis    night. 

Again    uncertain,  he    who    Vicksburg    holds 
Would   find    solution,  and    his    words    are    these: 
"And  still  the  movement  south  goes  on!    Can  Grant 

24 


So    foolish    be    that    now    he    hopes    to    gain 
A    solid    footing    on    this    side,  while    stand 
The    works  of    Warrenton    and    stronger    works 
Below?    Grand    Gulf    our    second    Vicksburg    is. 
And    well    the    river    guards    our    line    between, 
Save    Congo    Island  ;    and    the    foe    who    dares 
A    landing    there,  goes    to    his    doom.     And    if, — 
A    thing    impossible — the    strong    works     fell, 
The    road    but    leads    the   foe    along    to    death. 
No    troops    could    force    Black    River's    bluffs    when 

manned 

As    we    could    man    them    ere    he    came.     No  !    No ! 
'Tis    but    an    effort    made    to    cut    us   off  from    help. 
Supplies,    and    men,  from    Texas   and    the    West  ; 
Or   else    to    join    the    forces    farther    down 
And    seize    the    points    less    strong.       Remotely    still 
This    threatens    Vicksburg,  but    not    now  ;  — 

What    sound 
Is  that  ? 

25 


-It    cannot    be  —  and   yet  I'll  see  : - 
Again    the    thundershock    from    guns    that    man 
The    river    batteries  ! 

—  A    second    fleet 
Of    transports  !    Aye,  and    onward —  ! 

Curse    the    guns  ! 

As    well    have    "  quakers "    for    the     good     they    do. 
Aye  !     talk    of   Grant   with   jeer  and  sneer  !    a  thing 
Of  with'ring    scorn    yon    transport    is.     A    sneer 
At    these    high   hills    with    meaning    to    it.     Curse, 
Ah,  doubly    curse    the    guns,    each    worthless    piece, 
That    boasts    so    long    and    loud    and   acts   so   low. 
To    send    a    fleet    of    transports    by  !     Why,  soon, 
Without    more    effort    they    may    start    a    line, 
And  "ticket    through,"  from    Cairo    to    the    Gulf. 
A    fleet    of    transports ;    merest    shells    that    dare 
The    shotted    wrath    of    monster    guns    that    hold 
In    their    long    grasp    this    shore    a    score    of    miles  ! 
Dare  ?    Yes,  and    do,  most    easily,  for   there 

26 


Beyond    the    bluffs    of    Warrenton    they    go  ! 
One    sunk  ?     What    of    it  ?     All    the    rest    remain. 
This    means    hot   work.     Madness  ?    There's   method 

there. 

If    Grant    can    pass    our   front,  so    may    he    go 
At    will    to    any    landing    place    he    finds 
Unoccupied.     We    cannot    hold    each    inch 
Of    land    upon    the    eastern    shore. 

That    fleets 

Of    iron,  or    equipped    for    naval    fight, 
To    give    us    shot    for    shot,  should   seek    to    pass 
Our    boasted    batteries,  surprises    not. 
But    transports  ! 

And    not    once,  but    twice,  and  be 
Successful  !      Hurl    the    guns    from    place    at    once, 
And  give  free  way, —  save  thus  the  cost  of  shelling. 
What's   this? 

A    courier   with    message    sent 
With    speed    from   trusty    Bowen    at    Grand    Gulf. 

27 


«•  The    enemy    with   heavy  force  is  at  Hard   Times." 
The    plan    is    plain.     Grand    Gulf    will    be    assailed  ; 
And    if    it    fall    the    place    so    coveted, 
A    base    for    operations    on    this   side, 
Will    at    the    last    be    found. 

To    Stevenson 

Must    order    go:   'what    troops    we  here    may    spare, 
Hold    ready    as    a    reinforcement    small, 
Grand    Gulf    to    aid,  or    nearer    Warrenton.' ' 

28 


PART  I.— BOOK  3. 


MARS!  thou  blood-stained,  thou  man- 
slaying    Mars, 
Stormer   of    Walls !     Not    ended    yet 

thy    toil. 

Discord    to    thee    is    grateful    still,    and    Wars. 
Or    if    not    now    in    equal    strife    the    gods 
Contend,    like    spirit    stirs    th'    uneasy    mind 
Of  mortals.     And    be    mine    the    task    to    mark 
Their    fates    who    strive,    the    single    hero    lost 
In   host    heroic.      Nor    the    rest,   nor    march, 


Nor   bloody    field    that    sees    the    tight,    omit. 

Not     least     their    work     who    through    the     lowland 

toiled, 

'  Mid    wave    and    mire,  what    time    in    ease  their  foe 
Did    wait    in   scornful    calm    upon  .his    hills. 
The    mazy    labyrinth    of    winding    stream 
And    spreading    flood,    untangled    was    at    last, 
And    what    seemed    purposeless    and   scattered  wide 
Took    shape    and    head. 

The    gathering    army    placed 
Its    heavy    van,   unlocked    for,    far    beyond 
Sweep    of    the    city's    guns    or    column's    charge. 
And    these    who    active    were    the    while    we    sat 
With    Pemberton    in    council    safe,    attend  ! 
Nor    elsewhere    wait    than    with    these    few 
Whose    rank    is    naught,    but    private    soldiers    they  ; 
A    friendly    group,    as    oft    they    met    and    talked 
O'er    deeds    achieved,     or    guessed    the    farther    plan, 
Or    mayhap    spoke    of    home    the    ne'er   forgot. 

List,    while    the    random    stream    of    converse    runs. 

30 


il  My   sleep  was   soundly  sweet   last    night,   the   sleep 
That    soothes    the    righteous.       Well  !    perhaps    the 

march 

Through    fearful    storm    and    many    a    miry    mile 
From   Smith's   plantation    had   part    in  't.     Ye    gods  ! 
Preserve    me    from    the    like    again.     I    thought 
The    marching    from    the    Bend    was    hard    enough, 
When    on    the    narrow    top    of    what    levee 
The    water    left,    and    one    by    one,    we    went. 
'  Twas    mire    below,    and    rain    above,    and    when 
Your    foothold    yielded,    water    on   the    flank : 
I    speak    in    language   military.     Yea, 
Much    more,    to   be   exact.     If    to    besiege 
Is    to    surround    on    ev'ry    side    the    place, 
Then    once    the   water    held    me    under    siege. 
I    loved,   a   boy,    to   coast    right    well    in    days 
We    talk    of    now    as    long    ago,    but    not 
Such    coasting    as    I    practiced    then.     To    slide 
Through  mud  and  measure  what  the  depth  might  be 

3' 


Of    water    half    way    up    on    either    side 

The    path    that    formed    the    only    ground     to    tread. 

But    that   was    Paradise    to   yesterday  ; 

The    flat    barge    ferry    o'er    the    bayou    wide 

Did    land    us    once   again    upon    the   shore, 

The   same   long   shore   we  'd   traveled    on  :    not   wide 

Nor   long    enough    indeed    this    time    we    found. 

What    excellent    appearance    wore    the    men 

Who    formed     the     grand     advance     on     Vicksburg 

town, 
When    halted    at    that    Crevasse  ! 

The    levee 

Was    gone,    and    wild    the    waters    swept    before, 
And    land    ahead    could    no    man    see.      The    trees 
On    either    hand    waved    free    their    leafy    tops 
But   bathed    their    bodies    in    the    flood.      Half    score 
Of    feet    in    depth    the    water    lay.       And    then 
The  boats   from  great   boards  fashioned  round,   they 

brought, 

3* 


Frail  shells  that   dodged  the   forest   trunks,  and   bore 
The    heavy    freight    amid    the    cypress    knees 
Only    to    land    it    still    where    mud    and    mire 
Usurped    the    solid    land.       E'en    mules    did    scorn 
Such   travel.       More    than   one    leaped    overboard, 
And    slowly    did    their    ears    from    fond    sight    fade 
Seen    on    dry    land    by    fed'rals    never    more. 
New    Carthage  !      What    a    town    it    is  !    and    yet 
In    these    abandoned    houses    here    last   night 
Was    shelter    from    the    storm.      And    so   my    sleep 
Was    sweet." 

"  Nor    heard    the    cannons'    roar  ?  " 

"  No,    what  ?  " 

u  The    deep    report    came    sixty    miles    along 
So    loud    to    wake    me. 

Vicksburg's    guns    again 

With    shot    and    shell    would    stay    the    passing    fleet 
Of    gunboats    and    their    charges.       You   can    see 

O  C-1 

The   shot-scarred    transports   yonder  at   the    shore ! '' 
2  33 


And  seized   with   one   desire  they   turned   their  steps 
Where    now    secure,    the    battered,    shattered    hulls 
Lay    happy,    swinging    up    and    down,    as    if 
They    felt    the    sweet    relief    from    danger    passed 
And    knew    no    care    on    this    calm    morn,    beneath 
The    friendly    shelter    of    the    tree-hid    shore. 
Grim   guardian   gunboats,   here   and   there   made    fast 
With    cable    circling    some    thick,    gnarled    trunk, 
Frowned  black,   with   wrath   pent   up   in    iron   hearts, 
Forgiving   and    forgetting    naught.      A   barge 
Amid    that    strife    cast    loose,    slow    floating    by, 
Delayed,    now    met    their    eye,   and    slow    passed    on. 
The    peaceful    spell    o'er    all    things    resting    now 
Seemed  doubly  strange.     A  deed  so  great,  and  now 
A    morn    so    calm  !      As    if    all    acts    of    man 
Surprised    not    Nature,   nor    were    worth    her    note. 
Against    the    burd'ning    thought,    contending    speech 
At     last     found     strength    to    cope,    and    thus    one 
spoke  : 

34 


aWe    live    in    days   of    glory    new    and    great, 
And    record    proud    is   this    for    Hist'ry's    page, 
Matching    a    deed    that    stood   so    vast    alone." 
"  Like    thoughts     my    comrade    has,"    another    said, 
"  And    since    they    first     defied     the    cannon's    wrath 
With    transports,  he    has    sought    to   tell    in    verse, 
The    story    bold  !       I    have   it    here    unknown, 
And    ere    he    sends    it    north,  I    thought    but    fair 
We    who    best    know,    should    of    its     merits    judge. 
It    opens    where    the    crews    their    boats    did   leave 
And    soldiers    rushed    to    fill    their   places.       List  ! 

'  A  call  for  volunteers !  The  General  has  need 
of  the  boats  yonder,  and  the  creivs  ^refuse  to  run 
them.  A  call  for  volunteers!  Who '//  man  the 
boats  to  -pass  the  batteries,  and  dare  the  vengeance 
of  all  Vicksburg?  Engineers  lue  need,  and  fire 
men;  yes,  from  the  pilot  dow?i,  iue  ask  for  men. 
Ho,  Volunteers!  'whose  'willing'  spirit  volunteered 
in  months  long  gone,  hear  ye  this  second  call  for 

35 


volunteers!      Tour  names   again!      Who  first 
lead  the   way  f1 

Hear   the    shout  !    as    the    word    flies    by, 

'  /  go,"1    '  Fm    another  J  and    see 

How    high    and    low    for   the    honor    vie, 

In    danger    first,  or    death,  if  it    be. 

Never   the    like    before    was  seen 

Tho1  now    the    world    is    old, 

Never    the    like    to    startled    ears 

By    any    tongue    was   told. 

The    new    crews    man    the    deserted    boats, 
And    all    is    dark    and    heavy    and    damp, 
As    down    the   river   each   vessel    floats 
From    the    sheltering    shore,  and    friendly    camp. 
Silent    as    death    they    ride    their    course, 
Targets    frail    for    the    iron    ball, 
Certain    to    come    with    awful    force, 
To    be    answered    not    at    all. 

36 


Endure    while    hand    is    to    learn    desistance  ! 

Did    you    know    its    grip    on   the    soul 

lias    wrench    more    deathly    than    fierce    resistance  ? 

Few    shrink    'mid    the    battle's    roll; 

But    to    be    still,   stand    still,    and    take    it, 

Flinching    not,    nor    afraid, 

This    is    clear    grit    and    naught    can    shake    it, 

Here   the    heroes   are    made  ! 

Twinkles    merrily    each    far    light 

Where    heights    that    hide   the    enemy    loom. 

Red    flowers    opening    'mid   the    night, 

But   drooping    low    at    noon    of    its    gloom. 

And    silently    still  the   moments    go, 

The    foe    sleeps    well,    I    ween  ; 

Thanks    to    the    night    and    their    slumber    deep 

The    boats    pass    by   unseen. 

37 


Hark  !     Was    it    thunder  ?     Ah,   storm,    indeed  ! 
Peal    on    peal    with    the    lightning's    flame  ; 
Solid    clouds    with    their    deadly    bolts 
And    wrath    of    Hell    whatever    its    name. 
See    on    the    shore  !    the    gloom    is    gone, 
Up,    fiercely,    flames    the    fire, 
Houses    are    blazing    now    to    light 
The    strife    so    grand,    so    dire. 

Sight    remembered    forever  !     Lo, 

o 

Crowds    the    city    into    its    streets. 

Sweeps    the    shot   from   the    floating    foe, 

Dauntless    courage   the    wild    storm    meets  ! 

Lost    are    their    homes    that    crown    the    height, 

And    lost    the    city    fair, 

If    in    spite    of    the    batteries'    might 

Safe    pass    the    transports    there. 

38 


'  Tis    a    fear    undefined,    but    its    spell 

Fires    and    freezes    the    hearts    of    them    all. 

For    none    might    plainly    the    peril    tell 

Beyond    the    crash    of    the    cannon    ball. 

Never    did    men    so   watch    before 

The    battle    on    land    or    sea ; 

For    a    tremor    shakes    the    frightened    poise, 

Where    hangs    their    destiny. 

Joy,   joy    to    the    city    now  ! 

The    river    comes    with    touch    of    a    friend, 

It    takes    the    helm    and    it    takes    the    prow, 

Leading    in    circles    that    never    end. 

Hurl    ye    the    shot    and    shell    at    will, 

O,    mountain    walls    of  fire  ! 

Leap    to    your    tasks,  the   boats    rest    long 

Beneath    your    vengeful    ire. 

39 


Round    and    round    in    the    circle    of    death, 
Round    and    round    in    the    grip    of    the    wave, 
Boats    unused    to    the    war    storm's    breath, 
Yet    the    wrath    of    the    storm    must    brave. 
Hurl    ye    the    shot    and    shell    at    will, 
From    blazing    mountain    wall! 
Laugh    in    your    sport,  the    fleet    rests    long 
Where   best   your    shot    may    fall. 

Joy,  joy   to  the   watcher's    eye  ! 

The    fire    is    the    city's    friend,  for    lo  ! 

The    flames    are    leaping    aloft    and    high 

Where    floats    the    Clay    in    its    path   of    woe. 

Hurl   ye    the    shot    and    shell    at    will 

O    mountain    walls   of  fire  ! 

Yonder    the    burning    boat    reveals 

Where   best    may  fall   your    ire. 

4o 


Roar    the    cannon    from    gunboat    grim, 
Sweeping    all    the    streets    of    the    town, 
And    roar    the    cannon    from    yon    height's    rim, 
Hurling    death    on    the    vessels    down  ! 
Echoes    the    roll    of  storm    so    dire, 
From    far    hills    dark    and    high, 

O 

Thunders    that    gather    and   return, 
With    war's    deep    battle    cry. 

Joy    in    turn    to   the    floating    host ! 
For    'mid   the    din    of  the    awful    fray, 
Bursts    the    gun,    of  the    foe    the    boast, 
Sending    its    shock    o1er    the    waves    away. 
Joy    to    the    transports    now.       Hurrah ! 
They    heed    the    thrall    no    more, 
Breaking   the    eddy's    grasp    of  death, 
The)-    flee   the    fatal    shore. 

41 


Down    the    river    and    tar    below, 
Safely    speeds    the    fleet    in    its    course; 
Braving    the    wrath    of  the    lower    foe, — 
Warrenton's    thunders    oft    and    hoarse. 
But    fading    away   like    will-o'-the-wisp, 
The    light    more    dimly    grows, 
Suddenly    dies,    and    darkness    falls, 
In    silence    o'er    the    foes. 

Darkness,    silence,    unbroken,    deep  ! 

And  what    is    changed    in    life    for    them    there,. 

Where,    weary,    the    city's    defenders    sleep, 

Forgetting    the    conflict's    wracking    care  ? 

Duties    like    those    of  the    day    passed    by, 

They'll    meet    again    with    dawn, 

But    from    their    lives    has    something    sweet, 

Forevermore    withdrawn. 

42 


Story    true    of  the    daring    new, 

Feeble    words    for    wonderful    deeds  ! 

Who    from    the    crew    of  the    brave    and    fewr 

Bravest    were    in    meeting    the    need  ? 

Never    the    like    before    was    seen, 

Tho'    now    the    world    is    old, 

But    of  them    all    shall    some    be    found 

Beyond    the    others,    bold  ? 

Brave    were    all    of  the    great    hearts    there, 

Yet    write    on    high    with    the    names    of  the    true, 

Keeping    place    with    the    boats    to    dare, 

^Conway's    vessel,    captain    and    crew. 

Not    in    their    place    the    soldiers    wrought, 

What  yet    'twas    theirs    to   do; 

Not    in    their    work    the    boatmen's    task, 

Where    yet    belonged    the    crew. 

*"The  Forest  Queen,  Captain  Con  way,  was  the  only  transport  whose  cap 
tain  would  not  receive  volunteers  as  a  crew,  but  her  own  officers  and  crew 
stuck  to  their  boat  and  carried  her  safely  below  the  Vicksburg  batteries." — 
Slier  marts  Autobiography.  Vol.  /,  Page  318. 

43 


Brave    were    all    of  the    hearts    and    bold, 
But    highest    write    of   the    names    so    true, 
Those    of  men    in    the    darkened    hold, 
Be    they    soldiers,    or    be    the}'    crew, 
Who    in    the    darkness    watched    unseen, 
Where    the    crashing    cannon    ball 
Into    the    hull    might    lead    the    wave, 
To    swallow    them    one    and    all. 

Honor    highest    for    these    brave    souls  ! 
Doing,    daring    the    humblest    deed; 
Filling    the    breaks    in    the    shattered    hulls, 
*  Weapons,    cotton!  —  this    was    their    need. 
Honor    for    all    who    dare    unseen, 
What    tasks    may    lie    below  ! 
For   the    deed    is    best,    and    the    doer   blest, 
Tho"1    the    world    may    never    know. 


*  According  to  Badeau  these  men  were  supplied  with  bags  of  cotton  and 
the  like,  to  thrust  into  the  openings,  if  made  by  shells,  under  the  water  line. 

44 


Not    writ    too    strong.     I    bur    regret    our    march 
Was    ordered    ere    this    one    great    chance    occurred 
Once    in    a    lifetime,    not    to    come    again. 
Ah  !    proud     may    be    the    men    who    wrought    this 

deed  !" 

"  Come,  see    one    of   them !    pilot    on  the    boat :" 
So    spake    the    one    come    later,  grave    of  mien, 
Upon    whose    brow    the    snowflakes,  few    and    tirst, 
Of  life's    gray    winter    had    already  fall'n. 
Then    drew    they    near    a    house    left    vacant,    now 
A    hospital,    with    yet    but    one    within, 
Whose    voice    they    heard,    beseeching,    piteous, 
The    while    they    came    and    stood    beside    the    door. 
"  O    God  !    will    not    the    surgeon   amputate 
This    bleeding    limb    and    give    me    life  ?     I    bee: 

<-j  f—>  O 

For    life  ?     Take    money,  what   the    price    you    will  ! 
Out    from  my  whole  heart's    depth,  for  love  of  God, 
I    beg,  cut    quick    this    limb    away.      Spare    not  ! 
Welcome  the    pain    as    sharp    as    death,  I'll    bear   it, 

45 


But   give    we    hope,  O    give    me    hope    of  life  !" 
Quick    in    their    sympathies    one    sought    reply: 
u  Why    do  they  wait  ?     Can  they  be  still  and  hear?" 
To    him    the   elder    soldier    answer    gave  : 
"  If  you    but    look    you'll    see    the    bleeding    hip 
Is    shattered,  struck    by    solid    cannon    ball." 
Sharp    tho '    the    steel    and    skillful    tho '    the    hand, 
Attempered    to    its    work    with    tendVest    care, 
His    life   would    go    ere    yet    the    task    was    done. 
Young    as    he    is,    he    yet    must    die ;    not    easily, 
But    from    the    vigYous    frame    the     soul     be    drawn 
With    torturing    pain    through    many    weary    days. 
What    if  ten    thousand    bolts    had    gone    amiss, 
And    vain    the    lightning    from   the   ramparts   flashed, 
And  cannon  thundered  through  the  night  ?     One  shot 
Has   done   its   work.      And    what   to   him   the   fame, 
And    what    the    glory    to    the    far    home    friends  ? 
Sad    comfort,   when    beneath   the    awful    blow, 
The   crushed    hearts    bleedin      lie. 


I    doubt    me    much, 

If  ever    war   were    right.       Can    cruelty,  — 
For    'war    is    cruelty    and    can    not    be    refined,' — 
Be    right!" 

These    words    another   heard,   who    joined 
The    group  ;    poet,    whose    verse    by    stalwart    theft, 
Unbhishingly    confessed,    others    had    heard. 
And    as   with    lingering    step    the}'    turned    away, 
The    theme    he    took,    dissenting : 

"  Nay,    not    so. 

Your  words,  while  sounding  right,  I  feel  are  wrong, 
Wrong,  if  they    stand    against    all    strife    alway, 
And    yet    amid    the    weary   clash    of  words, 
Conflict    the    doubtful    one    to    me    ofttimes, 
I    only   see    and    feel    that   this    is   truth. 
He    only    rightly    strives    who   measures    well 
The    object    as    of  value    with    the   price 
Which  must    perforce    be   paid,  if  comes    the    call, 
The   price   so   weighty    with    its    grief  and    pain, 

47 


For    in    such    conflict    lofty    principle 

Its    value    finds.     What    soul    of  man    or    land 

Its    destined    birth    and    birthright    e'er    hath    known 

Save    through    the    pangs    of  travail    not    its    own  ? 

And    entrance    to   the   nobler    Life    lay    straight 

Through  Death's    dark   gates.     And  yet   that   nobler 

Life, 

Crowning    the    soul    uncrowned    and    helpless    else, 
With    glory    only    less    in    dazzling    light, 
The   splendor    of  a    radiance    infinite, 
Was    worth    the    pang    of  death    it    cost. 

And    so 

The    soul    of  lands,    where    liberty    and    home 
Shall    shine    in    purity    and    grow    in    pow'r, 
The    likest    thing    to    God's    own    land    and    home, 
The    only    fitting    earthly    dwelling    place 
For   soul    delivered   and    made    free    with    price, 
Is   worth    the    buying    and    the    saving.     He 
Who    rightly  strives   must  know   the    cause  is  great, 

43 


And    of  such    value   as    will    match    the    price 
Paid    now,   as    long    ago,  in    blood   and    grief. 
Thus,  war    for    glory    can    be    only    wrong, 
And    he    who    rights    for    glory    always    errs. 
But    if  upon    the    honest    motive    blooms 
The   beauteous    flow'r   of  worthy    deed    achieved, 
Then    glory  wears    the    hue    of  triumph   just  ; 
There    may  it    soften   grief  and    bring    the    balm 
That    while  it  cures  not,  soothes  the  sting  of  pain." 
"I    greatly  fear,  the    first    replied,   "you    measure    ill 
The    argument,  since    suff'ring    deep   and    dire, 
Men   meet  whose  souls  are  black  with  crime,  whose 

hands 

Are    red    with    blood  for    selfish    purpose    shed, 
That    yet    hath    seemed    the    pain's    equivalent. 
Better    thy    words    enweave   thy    thought,  that    left 
War's    outline    be,    with    horrid    front,  to    stir 
Dread    in    all    hearts,    lest    else    familiar    grown 
He    keep    our    company.     Always,    since    first 

3  49 


The    impious   Lamech    boasted    loud    of  deed 
Bloody    and    cruel,  claiming    vengeance    high, 
The    sevenfold  wrath  of  God  for   slaughtered  Cain, 
Dwarfed    in    the    seven    and    se'ventyfold   revenge, 
Which    his    hand    took    upon    his    enemy, 
So    sword    has    flashed    its    lurid     gleam,     the    more, 
Sweep    seventyfold    in    hand    of  wrong,    than    sent 
Its    ray    of  hopeful    light    the    seven    times    on, 
Ordered    of  God!" 

"  Yet    place    so    ordered    has," 

Quick  spake   the   poet.       "  Are   we   babes  and  know 
Distinction    none    between    the    selfish    cause, 
And    cause    that    keeps    a    continent    of  hearts 
In    their    high    boon    of  equal    liberty  ? 
War    is    a    giant,    all    uncouth    and    grim, 
But    sometimes    in    a    world    of  ill,    remote   - 
From    the    far    days    of  universal    peace, 
Needed.      His  strength   of  worth  if  that  strength  be 
Like    Samson's,    to   upheave   the   pillared    roof 

5° 


Of  Wrong's    great   temple,    and    in    acts    so    large, 

At    last    to    reach    supreme,    decisive    hour, 

And  find   his   tomb    'mid   wrecks  of  strife,   the  last." 

"In    truth,"    the    soldier    grave    replied,    "your    hope 

Were    passing    fair,    but    long    ago,    methinks, 

This    giant    should    have    died,    if  strife   could   slay." 

"  Slow   wheel    the   years    of  an    eternal    God," 

The    poet    answered;    "yet    his    cause    is-  just, 

Albeit    conflict    mightier    is    waged, 

Than    shock    of  earthly    battle.       But    there    comes, 

And    surely,    dawn    of  day    at    last,    that    sees 

All    conflict    ended.       '  Till    that    hour,    I    hold, 

'  T  is    each    man's    task    to     measure    each    his    day, 

Dark    with    the    gath'ring    storm    of  war,    onblown 

By    winds    not    loosened    through    his  sin,   and   mark 

Its    purpose    high,    unselfish,    reaching    far 

Along   the   years,   with    gath'ring   good;    or    note 

Its   dwarfing,    deadly,    selfish    aims,    ill    now, 

More    ill    in-  growing   strifes    and   wrongs,    the    days 

51 


The   future   brings.       This    can    he   do,    and    thus 
His   place   and    act    decide." 

"In    this    I    hear," 

The    other   answered,    "brave    defense    for    life 
Now  followed."      "Call    it    so,"    the    poet    said, 
"  If  thus    it    please    you,    and    in    truth    no    strife, 
More    plainly    meets    my    thoughts    of  right. 

Two    lands, 

Two    flags    that    flutter   over    hating    hearts  ? 
A    score    of  years    had    not    their    story,  told, 
Ere   shock    of  awful    conflict    sounded    far, 
To    which    our    own    were    child's    play. 

Then,    if  peace, 

Peace,  mail-clad  !     Armed    hosts    in    menace    held, 
Eyeing   each    other.      Cadmus    come   again, 
To   sow    the   awful  seed    broadcast,  and    earth 
Fruitful    alone    in    warriors,  —  crop    of  death  — 
Draining    the    soiPs    strength    ere   its   time.     A    day 
Of  this   more   deadly    than   a    thousand   years 

52 


Of  peace.     Hatreds    unending ;    wars    and    wars ; 
Divisions    more,    a    score    of  States,  and    then, 
War    still !     Now    two    at    war,  then    all,  and    this 
Forever ! 

Strong   contempt    our   own  ;    a    life 
By    suff 'ranee   from    the    vaster    powers    afar, 
Whose    selfish    greed   would   seek    its    fill    at    hour,' 
Most    opportune. 

Instead    of  wasted   life 

And    withering    freshness    thus,  one  Nation    free, 
One    Nation    grand    in    might    at    home,  abroad 
One    Nation,  held    in    honor,  and    when    meet 
Commanding    fear.     Its    form    colossal,  strength 
Colossal,  and    its    purpose    for    man's    good 
Colossal  !    Aye,  we   may    not    dpubt    we    wage 
War  just ;  and  flashing  sword  hath  lightning  gleam 
Touched    by    God's    finger. 

Be    it    writ    and  large 
Upon    the   banners   of  the    coming   years, 

53 


"They  heard   his  voice  who   kept  their  country  one." 
"  And    this    I    may    admit,"    the    answer    made, 
"  If  to    my    thought    you    grant    a    fair    consent  : 
That    never    is    there    reason   just    for    war, 
Where    life    so    sadly    withers,    save    in    life 
Preserved    direct,    and    granted    liberty. 
And    never   this,    it    may    be,    but    if  e're, 
So    plainly    this    that    blinded    eyes    can    see. 
If  this    it    were    not    with    us,  perish    war  ! 
Read  thus  your   meaning,  then  your  words  are  true: 
'  They  heard  his  voice  who  kept  their  country  one.' ' 
Then   summoned,  one  for    guard,  one  for  "  fatigue," 
Duties    uncrowned    and    common,  they  obeyed, 
And   parting,  each   his   own    way    willing    went. 

54 


And  such  was  Pemberton,  peak  hunting-,  ro  " 
Here,  where  before  we  saw  him. -PART  I,  Book  4. 


PART  I.-BOOK  4. 

VICKSBURG  !     beautiful    upon    your 

hills, 
Home-hidden  Vicksburg  all  embowered, 

'mid    trees 

Whose    swaying   arms    embrace,  conceal,  yet    toss 
Deftly    their    veiling    branches,  that   the    eye 
May   see   thy    glist'ning  jeweled   terraces, 
Where    cottage   white    and    stately    home    appear, 
-  Gems,  on   the  broad    breast  of  thy  massive  bluff; 

55 


Know'st    thou   that    o'er   thee   now   thine    angel  folds 
Her   wings    of  hope    and    sadly    plumes    for    flight  ? 
Two    days,  and    sunny    May    will    kiss    the    flowVs 
Ye    bring    her,  winsome    as    the    day    that    first 
Blushed    in    a    glad    surprise    and    sweet   delight, 
On    Eden    once    so    fair    and    lost    so    long. 
Two  days ;  yet  thoughts  more  stern  than  garlands  need 
Were    well,  and    while  thou  plannest  pleasant  hours, 
A   sterner    thought    engages    him    whose    care 
The    city    is.     His    presence    seek,  and    note 
"The    words    his    aid    receives. 

"Away  with    haste ! 

Tell  Johnston    we    have    urgent    need    for    men  ! 
That    Grant    at   Hard    Times,   holds    in    hand 
Large  force,  with   barge  and  transport  at  the  shore. 
And    Grand    Gulf  now    is    threatened  with    assault, 
And   Vicksburg    next."     And    to    another,  this  : 
"The   troops    I    ordered,  have    they    gone?" 

56 


"  They  have," 

Was  answered,  "  and  ere  this  they  should  have  come 
In    easy    reach    of  any    threatened    point." 
And    while    he    answered    spoke    a    breathless    aid : 
"  The    enemy    is  giving    sisrns    of  life 

«/  o  o  o 

Above   the   bluffs  !     Something's    afoot  !     The   word 
Has  come  that  transports  weighted  down  with  troops 
Are    ready   at   the  Bend   to   move  at  once  ! 
The   iron-clads   have   steam    up   even   now." 
"Is  the   force   large  ?" 

"  Ten  thousand  at  the  least." 

"  Find    what    you  can    of  this  !     A  feint,  perhaps." 
And   forth   he   went  to   find   no  more,  no   less 
Than   known  before,  and   thus  again  reports  : 
*'  I  can  but  say   the   word   seems   verified  ! 
Already  yonder  steam  the   iron-clads 
And  many  transports." 

"  Whither  seem  they  bound  !" 
"Just  now  the  fleet  is  headed  towards  Yazoo." 

57 


The   puzzling   problem   thus   the   Gen'ral   weighs : 
"Is   this  his     real   aim,  and   has   he   sought 

O 

Deception    merely   from    the    south  ?     The   way 
Sharp    hedged    with    difficulty    and    unknown, 
Would    argue    yes.       And    if  we    sent    large    force 
From    here,    'twere    easy    then    to    take    the    town. 
Has  Grant  thus  planned ;  is  thus  this  move  explained  ? 
Ill    can    the    city    bear   the    loss    of  men 
Now    gone  ;    and    who    the    high    result    may    guess.. 
If  from    the    north    the    heavy    move    is    made  ? 
Quick  !    order    back    the    troops    last    sent  !" 
And    to    his    weary    ride    the    aid    departs, 
And    fails    not,    but    the    morn     of    May    has    come, 
Ere    to    his    chief  he    brings    report.       Scarce    there, 
When    Pemberton    himself  prevents    his    speech. 
"  The   force  has   gone.      Nowhere  the  fleet  appears. 
With    much    display   they    only    played    at    war." 
"Then    these    I    brought,"    the  aid    replied,    "have 
marched 

58 


With  utmost  haste   in  vain,  from  camp  just  pitched, 
Full    sixty    miles    without    a    rest.       They    came 
To   save   the    city,  safe    enough.       '  Twill    prove 
No    worse,    I    hope,    by    giving    Grant    less    men 
To    fight    at    Warrenton,    or    farther    south." 
And    while    he    spake    a    messenger    arrived, 
With    cry  :    "  The    enemy    at    Bruinsburg, 
On    yesterday    did    land    and    gained    the    hills, 
Without    resistance.       Bowen    marched    all    night, 
And    now    engages    his    large    force.       His    troops, — 
The    Grand    Gulf  garrison,    with    only    help 
Of  one    or    two    brigades    sent    on    from    here." 
"  At    Bruinsburg  !       And    who     could     guess     that 

point  ! 

But    why,    with    greater   force   has   Loring   failed  ? Jf 
Spoke    one    surprised,    whose    rank    inferior    was  ; 
Surprised    no    less    his    chief,    who    answer    made  : 
"  The    time    was     short,     and     Grant     was     quick, 

that's    all  ! 

59 


Make    ev'ry    effort    now    to    reinforce 

Our   army    there    and    hold    the    foe   at    bay. 

To   Johnston    haste,  deliver    this    dispatch, 

*  Since    daylight    furious    fight    has    waged    below 

Port    Gibson.     Grant    can    cross    his    every  man 

At    Bruinsburg,  and    threatens   Jackson    now, 

And    if  he    wins    that    point  hems    Vicksburg    in, 

And    shuts    Port    Hudson    fast    against    our    need. 

Large    reinforcements    send    and    send    at    once." 

60 


On  that  side  they 
To  hurl  these  fiery  demons  down. — PART  I,  Book  2 

PART  I.— BOOK  5. 

WHITE  stone  by  the  wayside  of  the  life 
Led  by  the  soldiers,  was  the  day  the  mail 
Came  in.  Groups,  eager,  gathered  round, 

while    one, 

Captain    or    orderly,  the    names    read    loud, 
And    outstretched    hands  received    the  missive  light. 
O    days    of  battle !    days    of  marches    long  ! 
Crown   that  day  queen   that  brings  the  tidings   near, 
To   cheer  the   hearts   of  men    from    homes    remote, 
And  give  a   glimpse  of  sunshine  through   the   cloud. 

61 


Stronger    are    the}"  when    this    invisible   wine 
Runs    through    their    veins,    uplifting    sinking    hopes, 
Till   the  dull   heart   beats    bold    to    words   of  love. 
This  day  has  come   unlooked  for   in  the   camp ; 
The    shout    rings  forth  that  gathers  everywhere 

Glad  men.     And  some  rejoice,   and   some,  more  sad, 

* 
Return   to    feed    upon    their    idle    thoughts. 

And    as    the    long    day  passes,  here    and    there, 
Busy  the    pens    fly  with    their   answering    words^ 
And    thus   writes    he,  the    poet,  to    his    home: 
"  Here    safe,   and    idle    for    an   hour,   in    shade 
Of  tender    citadel    by    mine    own    hand 
Upbuilt,  in    fact    a    sort    of  Jonah's    Booth, 
(No    tents   we  Ve  had   for   now  a  month   or  more,) 
Til    rest,  and    write    of   things    occurring. 

Well, 

Our  camp   which    lay   upon    the   wasted    lands 
Of   Perkins'   water-swept    plantation,  broke, 
And    some  afoot,  though  footing    scarce   was    found, 


And  some  in  boat  and  barge,  passed  on  to  wait 
At  Hard  Times,  orders  sure  to  eome,  and  soon. 
•One  barge  lay  sunk  ;  but  bailed  and  patched  and 

pitched 

By  men    who    floated   in    it    afterward, 
It    brought    them    'mongst    the   foremost,    where    the 

heights 

Of   Grand    Gulf  loomed    upon    the    eye.     But    while 
Our    column    marched    aboard    and    climbed 
The    slippery  staging    to    our    place,    we    heard 
A    cry  that    pierced  our    hearts    like    cleaving    steel. 
One  we    had    known,  in    passing   from   the  boat 
To    barge    beyond,  by  sad    misstep    went   down, 
And   tho'  he    rose,  above    him    lay    the    boat, 
And    tho1    his    cry  was    heard,  no  hand    could    help. 
'The   story    sad    in    verse    I    sought    to    tell. 

63 


OUT  OF  THE  DARKNESS,  A  VOICE. 


The    night    was    dark    on    the    river, 

Sweeping    its    current    bv, 
The    night    was   dark    on    the    lowland, 

And    dark    was   the    cloud-robed-sky ; 
And    into    the    darkness    and   silence 

Slow    as    from    lids    of   Pain, 
Fell,   but    a    few    in    a    moment, 

The    great   sad    tears    of  the    rain. 

The    night    was    dark    on    the    river, 

Sweeping    its    current   by, 
With    lift    and   push   at    the    vessels, 

That    under   the    shore    did    lie. 
And    ever,  with    many    halting, 

Still    nearer  the    column    drew 
Where    the    torch    of  the    boat   upkindled, 

Flared    fiercely    the    shadows   through. 

O    darkness    of   earth    and    heaven! 

O    clouds!    with    the   falling    tears, 
With    heart    of    the    weary    soldier 

Did   ye    mingle   your    sighs    and    fears? 

64 


For    into    the    silence    and    darkness 
Where,  waiting    our    time    to    go, 

Impatient   we    stood    all    burdened, 
Rang    a    cry   of    deathly   woe. 

A    voice!    no    more    in    the    darkness, 

Red    with    the    blood    of   the    heart 
That    uttered    farewell    to    living 

As    torn    from    its    love    apart. 
"What    means    it?"    the    whispered   question, 

"  This    cry,  half  a    shriek,  half    moan, 
With    a    living    anguish    pulsing 

Each    chord    of  the    wordless    tone? 

O    answer    of  grief  and    sadness 

That    tells    of  a    comrade's    death! 
His    path    lay    hid   in    the    darkness, 

The    river   was    deep   beneath, 
And    lo!     in    the    darkness,    the    angel, 

Whose    wings    are    of    sable    hue, 
Waited,  unseen,    his    coming, 

And    spake,  and    the   spirit   knew. 

The   soul,  long   waiting   the    message, 
Gladly    may   rise   to    go, 

5  65 


But   Youth,    with    life    all    before    it, 
Must    shudder    that    voice    to    know. 

And    startled,  the    soul    could    not    answer 
The  summons    of  death    so    soon, 

And    clung    at   the    yawning    portals 
Flung    wide    ere    the    hour    of     noon. 

O    voice    of  terrible    anguish 

That    rang    on    the    startled    air! 
Like    the    cry    of    the    Human    Shrinking 

In    the    Christly    cry    of  despair! 
Yet    out    of   the    Death    deemed    hopeless, 

The    Hope    of   Life    came    white, 
And    out    of    that    Strife,    Peace    softly 

As  drawn    from    the    storm    and    night. 

O    Land!    shall    this,   in   thv   mourning. 

A   token    of  glad   hope    be? 
Shall    the    cry    that    came    from    the    darkness 

Be    signal    of   good    to    thce? 
Aye,    the   life    of  thy    sons    thus    shortened 

Thy    dearer   life    shall    prolong, 
And    their   stalwart    strength  be    yielded 

Only   to    make    thee    strong! 

66 


Though    night   be    dark    on    the    river 

Sweeping   its    current    by, 
Though    night   be    dark   on    the    lowland 

And    dark    the    cloud-robed    sky, 
Yet    darkness    to    dawn    of  the    morning 

And    gloom    to    the    day  shall    grow, 
For   paid    is    the    price    for    Freedom 

In   the    heart's    red    drops    of  woe. 

The    land    we    touched    in    sight   of  enemy 
Waved    brightly  green    with    feath'ry,    rustling   corn, 
Brushing   the    knee    that   hurried    by,  and    grew 
So    clean    that  well  it   pleased    the    practiced    eye 
Of  more   than    one,  who    sighed    for    fields  like  that 
To    conquer,  under    other    skies.     With    dawn, 
Long    lines    of  watchers    from   the   only  height, 
The    near   levee;   strained    anxious    eyes    to   see 
The    low,    strong    iron-clads    with    steady  stroke 
Move    grimly    down   against   their    hidden    foe. 
Look  !    curls  the  smoke  midway  the    height,  and  lo, 
The   plunging  shot   the    armor    strikes,   to    glance 

67 


And  sink    beneath   the    foe    it    meant    to    harm. 
Loud    peals    the    thunder    from    the    river    rleetr 
As    to   and    fro,    above,  below,  and    close 
Beneath    the    mighty  hills    they   go.     The  shock 
Of   whirling    shot    their    brave    sides    feel,    and    oft 
They    reel    beneath    the   volleyed   storm   of  death 
Sent    hurtling    hard    against    the    foeman's    front. 
Now    hangs    the    smoke    above    the    river    broad, 
And    climbs    and    hugs   the   farthest    height    beyond. 
1  Tis  vain  !  Though  great  their  might,  yet  stronger  far 
Than   we    had    thought,  and    line    on    line    the    foe 
Lay   safe   to  wait  what   force  should  seek   to  land, 
And    sheltered    meet   the    shelterless.* 
Beyond    this    barrier    must    we    march,  and    soon 
Along    the  river's    side   belowr  we    camp.          [darts 
Night  comes.     Look,  look !     That  Hash !  see  how  it 

*"The  rebel  batteries  -were  too  elevated  for  Porter  to  accomplish  any 
thing;  he  \vas  not  able  to  dismount  a  solitary  piece,  and  it  would  have 
been  madness  to  attempt  a  landing  under  unsilenced  guns  like  these."' 
— Badeau,  Vol.  /,  Page  199. 

68 


From    bluff   to    bluff,    like    livid    lightning's    leap 
From    cloud    to    cloud ! 

Drum-beat  of  thunder    now 

Strikes  its  deep   note  ;    a   roll  call   that  would  wake 
The    sleeping    underworld,   if  not    awake 
Already !    Aye,  again,  again    have    dared 
The   transports   all  the   vengeance    of  the   foe. 
And    here   floats    one,  and    there    another   rides, 
And    all    escape    that    Pandemonium 
Let    loose   amid    the    gloom    that   fits    such    play. 
Shot-shattered,  some,  and   crippled,  yet    with    life 
Full    strong    to    bear    the    army   to    the    field, 
That  somewhere  should  the   land's  high  fate  decide. 
Dim    was    the    light    as   to    the    morning    roll 
We   answered,,  some    to    answer    nevermore. 
Upon    the    transports    rank    on    rank    we    press 
'Till  in    the    multitude    compact    seems    lost 
The   man,  and    moving    on   the    foe,  one   heart 
In  massive   body   throbs    defiant    lile. 

69 


Bold   be    the   soul    to-day,  for   stroke  on   stroke 
Of   circling    wheel    drives    swift    our    course    along, 
Where,  now    as   yesterday,  the    foe    lies    hid, 
Nor    gunboat    leads    the    van    with    awful    fire 
To    daunt    that  iceman's    courage ;  and    he   notes 
With    wonder    and    delight    so  rash    an    act 
As    this    on    speeding    transport's    course. 

His    guns 

Are   trained !    At   yonder   water   break    he    deems 
We    pass    the    death    line,  and    but    waits    to    see 
Us     sink    beneath    Grand    Gulf's    dread    batteries. 
Ha!    turns    the    prow,   obedient    to    the    helm, 
And    in    the    scant    room    left,  from    danger    hies, 
Taunting    a    disappointed    foe.     For    oft 
War's  scowling  front  will  change  its  frown  to  scorn. 
Now  on!    our  course,  through  scenes  of  smiling  peace, 
To    vie    in    beauty    with    the    earth's    fair    vales, 
Ere    yet    the    curse  of  thorns    and    labor    fell! 
Here  fields  are  green  with   corn;   fair   meadows  lie, 

7° 


And    feeding   flocks    oft    stop   to    gaze,  alarmed, 
On    sight    so    strange,    but    soon    forget    their    fear; 
While    sometimes,    from    the    homes   on    either  shore 
The    curling    smoke    is    seen,    uprising    slow. 
Look    eastward  !    to    the    hills    beyond    this    plain, 
Where    yonder    stately    house    its    shoulders    lifts 
Above    the    vassal    and    inferior    trees. 
There    watching,    wrathful,    men    have    stood,     their 

forms 

Outlined,    since    first    our    warlike    fleet    drew    near. 
Now,    now,    as    swift    to   shore    the    gunboats    lead, 
They    disappear.       But  fear    we    not    the    word 
They  bear  to  foes,   lor  while  they  speak  theyll  hear 
The    footfall    of  our    columns    at    their    doors. 
Too    late !    Too   late  !   O,    messengers,    ye    go. 
Behind,    with    swift    and    steady    tread,    the    troops 
Of  vetVan    courage,    press   to    heights    ye    ought 
With    force   to    hold,    but    leave    unoccupied. 
O    hills    so    long    defiant !    now   ye    lie 


Submiss   beneath    our    feet.       O    vales    between, 
With  grass  of  green  thick  grown  and  high,  and  hid 
By    welcome    shade    of   spreading    forest    tree, 
Soft    bend    your    conquered  blades  before    the  march 
Of   the    invader  !    and  half  won    the    day. 
Here    halt,   and    place    the    pickets    to    secure 
Yon    road    against    surprise.       Quick  !    send    details, 
That    from    the    river    rations    may    be    brought, 
Less  worth  than  time  until  these  heights  wrere  gained. 
'  Tis    done  !       With    labor    of  a    Hercules, 
They    roll    the    rounded    barrel    on,    and    lift 
The    weighty    box    o'er    plain    and    hill,    till    seven 
Long,*  weary    miles   their    perfect    measure    fill.* 
Scant    time    had    we    to   sup,    tho'    fain    and    faint, 
When    '  forward '    is    the    cry,   and  on   we  pass 
From    vale    to    hill,    and    through  ravines  so  bridged 
With  slender  strength,  that  hostile  hand  could  sweep 


*  This  is  not  mentioned  in  anv  published   history,  but  in  experience  is, 
by  some  soldiers,  more   vividlv  remembered. 


The    ev'ry    crossing    in    an    hour  ;    and    where 
The    early    corn    grows    freshly    to    its    strength, 
Swiftly   the    ceaseless   march   pursues    its    way. 
Past    lowly    huts    from    which    the    dusky    forms 
Of   friendly    negroes    crowd    in    wild    amaze  ; 
And    one    the    blessing    of    a    patriarch 
Extends,  his  trembling  hands    outstretched,  his  voice 
Brokenly    sending    through    the    night*  these    words  : 
'  God  bress  yoits  all,   God  bress  yous  ivhar  you  go, 
But  mighly  Jot  ob  men  hab  come  to  fight  you  shuah, 
A  nd  Ps  af eared  yorfll  nebber  mo"1  come  back, 
God  bress  you  dough,   and  keep  you   berry  safe,"1  - 
And    still    the    ceaseless    march    pursues    its   way. 
Now,    'mid  the    shad'wy    foliage    of  trees 
Whose   leaves   with    sigh    and   quiver  part  and   close 
Athwart    the    May-moon's    soft    and    steady    beams, 
That    fitful    fall    upon    our    burnished    steel, 
As    with   a   heavy    tread    like    muffled    tone 
Of  baffled   thunder    sounding,  on    and    on, 

73 


*  Resisted    not,  we    haste    to    gain    the    fields 

So    coveted,  whose   weighty    price    in    blood 

Had    been    free-offered,  when    the  call  should    come, 

The   sharp,  fierce   call   that   came  not,  hour   by  hour. 

'Tis    twelve!    and    midnight's    awful    silence    broods 

A   moment    o'er    the    column's    rest    'in    place.1 

'  Tis    two,  as    measured    by    yon    wheeling    bear, 

And   breath  of  calm,  like  silence   deep  which  stayed 

The    multitudes    of  heaven,   seems    to    fall 

Upon    that   weary    line,  the    army's    head. 

'Halt!    Rest!'    And  sleep  with  glad  wings  comes  to 

perch 

On    heavy    eye-lids   driven    oft    away. 
Hark!  hark!  '  In  line!  Advance,  advance!'  The   guard 
Drives    now    the    picket    from    his    place,  and    crack 
Of   rifle    comes    with    oft    and    sharp    report. 
No   sleep  till    morn,  nor  then,  and    pulses    leap, 


*"The   movement  by   Bruinsburg  was,  undoubtedly,  a    surprise," — Ba- 
dtau,    Vol.  /,  Page  an. 

74 


Deep    stirred;    and    fleet    the    wild    blood    flows. 
Flies,  whirls    the    battery    to    yonder    hill 
To    answer    shot    for    shot    the    foeman's    guns, 
Where   flash    of   darting    fire    reveals    their    place. 
•Lie    down!'   command   obeyed,  when  up    the    slope, 
At    last,  exhausted,  following    fast,  the    guns, 
We    hold    the    hill,    our    cannon   just    before. 
Swift,   rushing,   horrible,   the   shells    go  by, 
Mad,  tearing  trees  amain,  whose  boughs,  down  hurled 
Alarm    the    snorting    war-horse,   all    untried, 
Where    darkness    multiplies    the    terrors    new. 
The  long,  slow  hours  to  dawn  are   passed,  and  when 
We    see    the    verdure    fresh    beneath   the    dew 
That    answers,   smiling,   to    the    sun's    bright    touch, 
Kissing    away    its    life    into    his    own, 
—Would    I    could    welcome    dying    so  —  uprose 
The  storm  of  battle.       Shall    I    e'er   forget 
The   strange   emotion,  sweeping    all    my    soul,, 
As    o'er   the    hill    exposed    to    rapid   fire 

75 


Of   cannon    masked,  but    soon    unmasked,  in    range 
Most    easy,  pushed    our  column   on.     Come  thoughts 
Of  war    by    youth    indulged    in    peaceful    home, 
And    tell    me    if   ye    rightly    grew!     What    means 
This    pallor,  where    the    flush    of  eager   joy 
At    open    warfare    waged    by    brave,  true    men, 
Should    hang    its    rosy    banner    out  ?     And    is 
The  white  flag  floating  ?     Nay,  't  were  false  to  say ! 
The    heart    beneath    still    sets    its    current    true, 
And  still  the  face,  tho'  white,   looks    toward  the  foe, 
And    still    the    step,   unshrinking,   hastes    to    meet 
The    nearer    terror   of   the    angry    guns. 
What,    but   the    protest    nature,    formed    by    hand 
That  meant  not  war,    but  peace,  hath  giv'n  to  show 
That    hiding    strength    almost,    almost    divine, 
The    soul    should  'rather    burst    its    weaker    bonds 
And    reach    its    perfect    stature    'mid    the    scenes 
Of   peace  ?       Kept    thus    the    true    hearts1    color  fast 
In  face   that    ne'er   the    true    heart   should    betray. 

76 


Long  swayed  the  lines  while  neither  gained  nor  lost, 
And    rifle's    voice,    short   sharp    and    many    tongued, 
The    long,   loud,   thunder    note    of    cannon   joined, 
And    swelled    the    roar    along    the    echoing    hills. 
But    when    the  'sun   had    climbed    his    central  throne, 
With    bay 'net    set,  we    charged    their    batteries; 
Then  guns  so  grim  changed  hands,  and  turned  their 

wrath 

Upon    their    friends,  our    flying    foe.*     The    deeds 
Of  battle    all,   my    pen    can   ill    describe, 
Yet    if  I    say   the    hills   were    steep    and    high, 
And    overgrown    with    tall    and    slender    canes 
Most  dense,  and  that  sometimes  we  climbed  their  sides 
With    grasp    upon    their   fragile    stalks,  and    else 
Had  reached  nor  height  nor  foe,  you  will  not  doubt 
'  Twas  weary  work  the  while  death  swept  the  field. 


* "  Captain  I.  C.  Dinsmore,  of  the  99th  Ills.,  sprang  upon  one  of  the 
enemy's  howitzers  in  Gen.  Hovey's  gallant  charge,  claimed  it  as  his 
own,  turned  it  upon  the  enemy,  and  fired  at  them-" — Patriotism  of  Ill 
inois.  Vol.  /,  Page  457. 

77 


But    while    the    foe    was    beaten    here,    his    right, 

Stubborn    and    brave,    held    fast    its    place;    and    we 

Stayed    the    pursuit    of  flying    troops,    and    moved 

Our    column    to    support    our    weary    left. 

In    long    lines    marched    the   soldiers  down  the  slope, 

And    soon   were-  lost    amid    the    maze    of  canes; 

And    all    unseen,    still    deadly,    waged    the    strife, 

Who   won,    who    lost,    where    met  the  foernen  there, 

Was   known,    save    only    by    the    rifle's    awful     roar, 

Yet    marking    line,    invisible    and    dread, 

The    night    at    last    came    on,    and    weary    slept 

The    victor    host    upon    the    field    now    won. 

Next    morn   the    foe    had    fled,  yet    as    we    pressed 

With    slow,  obstructed    march    through    wilderness 

That    closed    compact    before    us,    and    behind, 

Compact    the    wall    renewed    so    soon   as    passed, 

We    found    the    silent    forms    of  many    a    foe, 

Else    seen    no    more    till    resurrection    hour. 

As    here    we    came   we   passed    the    May -day    pole, 


And    grass    crushed    low    beneath    the    flying    feet 
•Of  merry    dancers    on    the    velvet    sward. 
Low,    deep    and    oil    the    thunder    peal   of  strife 
Struck    on  their  ears,  yet  thought  they  all,   'tis  said, 
'  Twas    interchange    'tween    passing    gunboat    far 
And    Grand    Gulf  batteries. 

One    brief  hour    more, 

And    now    again    we    press    the    flying    foe. 
And    as    I    write    the    voice    of  rifle    speaks 
Where    hungry    foragers    supply    our    needs, 
And.  yonder    wagons    found    bring    in    the    spoil. 
And    as    the}'    come    mine    eyes    new  scenes  behold. 
Here    all    the    dusky    children    of  the    land, 
With    thoughts    of  jubilee    already    dawned, 
In    multitudes    flock    round    us.       Some    enrobed 
In    all    the    colors    by    the    rainbow    lent, 
And    some    almost    unrobed    like    primal    man, 
And    even    now    a    vet'ran  mother   hastes 
With    troop    of  follow'rs,  from  the  gray-haired  son 

79 


To    lively    youth"  who    starts    the    fourth    or    filth 
Of  generations    on.      Some    are    on    foot, 
And    some    that    may,   do    ride,   and    cushioned    seat 
For    them   is    soft    as    for    their    masters,  once, 
And    gorgeous,   radiant    apparel    far 
Outshines    itself  upon    a    sable    form. 
Possessions    various    and    strange    have    they, 
And  all  their  lives  and  hopes  and  fears  are  changed, 
—A    tossing   sea    with    far    unbounded    shore, 
A    chaos    come    upon   this    life    and    land! 
Shall,  ever    order    fair    return    and    bless 
As    erst    it    did   the    earth    from    chaos    born?" 

80 


PART  II.— BOOK  i. 


.Jl§fP    HE     hour    of    destiny    had    struck! 

i^AMllfX^ 

UK      '         Acr°ss 

The    river  broad  the  wounded  boats  had 

borne 

The    army,  such    as    first    should    meet    the    foe. 
Swift  to  the  heights  the    troops  had  swept  and  when 
The    eastern    sky  had    blushed    beneath   the    kiss 
Of  eager    morn,  the    deadly    fi^ht    began. 
Back,  back  from  height  10  height,  from  vale  to  vale, 
Through    forest    close,  beneath    magnolia's    bloom, 

6  Si 


Where,  frightened,  flew  the  birds   ~f  May.,  and  leapt 

The    squirrel    in    a    wild    alarm,  and    on 

Through  densest  canebrakes,  with  a  slow,  sure  step, 

The    Federal    army    drove    their    stubborn    foe. 

And    now    the    shadows   fall    upon    the    third 

Of    days    victorious. 

The    GenVal    rests 

A    moment    brief,    from    writing    long    dispatch, 
Where    lies    the    gunboat    holding    what    was    won, 
Grand    Gulf,  of   greater    Vicksburg,  outer    door. 
What  movement  next?    The  balance  trembling  hangs, 

O  O     " 

While    plans    alternate    press    their    rival    claims: 
Whether    the    column    southward    still    shall    march 
And   join   our  Captain  where  Port  Hudson's  heights, 
Full    steep    as    hangs    the    precipice,   look    down, 
— Grim  pivotal    of  that   broad    gate,    the    South, 
Kept   open   still    between   their    east    and    west,— 
And    crushing    this,  with    forces    free    return 
To    burst    the   stronger    bolts    and    barrier   great, 

.82 


And  open  thus  the  highway  to  the  sea, 
By  indirection  striking  Vicksburg  last, — - 
Or  shall  we  strike  her  now? 

A    beaten    foe 

Pursued    a    score    of   miles;    the    army    led 
Thus    far   towards    Vicksburg    or    the    capital, 
Or    Big    Black    river    bridge,    the    needed    joint 
To    that    long    throat    through    which    all   Vicksburg 

o  o  o 

feeds,— 
Shall   all    abandoned   be  ? 

To    turn    the   scale, 

This    message    brief  from    Banks,  the    GenVal    read: 
"  Could    reach    Port    Hudson    only    by    the    tenth.11 
"And  then  the  loe,"  mused  Grant,  "  large  force  had 

gained. 

Each    da}Tls    delay    is    worth    two    thousand    men  ! 
And  should  Port  Hudson  fall,  twelve  thousand  troops 
That    Banks    could   bring,  would  ill    replace  the   loss 
Of  reinforcements    sent    the    enemy. 

83 


No    gain    no    gain,    were    that  ! 

One    way    remains. 

Here,  heie    my    army   lies,  where    half  a    year 
We    sought    to    place    it.     Victory    has    crowned 
Its    banners,  and    the    heart    of  conqueror 
Beats    now   within    each    soldier's    breast.     In    war 
The    chance    is    staked    on    probabilities; 
And    certain   no    man    dares   to    hold    his    plan; 
Yet    thus    I    cast   the    die : 

On    Vicksburg's    heights 
I    plant    the    flag,  or    lose    in    the    attempt. 
Thus  far;    but  shall   I   march  on  Vicksburg  straight? 
Full    thirty    thousand    strong,  it    may    be    more, 
Lies    Pemberton's    array    along    the    line 
Of  railroad    east,   or    in    the    city    waits. 
Another    army    gathers    in    the    east, 
Not    far,  of  strength    unknown,  but   watching    mine, 
In    numbers    all    too    near    to    hope    to    gain 
Sure    victory    against    their    forces   joined. 

84 


And    I    can    bring    for    this,  the    first    swift    work, 
A    little    more    than    thirty    thousand    men, 
With    others    still    to    swell    my    force    as    I 
Shall    prosper   in    my    purpose  ;    it    may    be 
A    total    close    to    fifty    thousand    troop. 
But    less    than    mine    must    now    this    army    be, 
Which   threatens    all    my    right.       I  '11    crush   it  first, 
And    hide    my   plan    from    friend    as  well    as    foe. 
My   base   exposed  ?      I'll    take    my   base    along, 
And    if  the    enemy    should    find    it, — well! 
With    three    days'    rations    to    the    army    giv'n 
To    last    it    seven,    if  need    be ;  —  and    such    need 
Has    been    before,  —  the    land    shall    yield    the    rest. 
Rich    proves    the    country    'round    us,     and     I     know 
'  Tis    possible.       And    victory?       With    men 
Like    mine    I    doubt    it    not,    but    swift    must    be 
Each    move.     And  if  we  fail  ?     Be  mine  the  blame 
As    mine    it    is    to    plan    the    game  !       Great    gain 
Comes    never    to    those    risking    naught.       And    if 

85 


Gained    this    campaign,  the    gain    is   vastly    more 

Than    yet    has    fallen    to    our    hands.      To-night 

I    turn    my    back    upon    this   friendly    stream, 

And    whether    seen    again    or    not,  I    go." 

Thus    thought    the    great    Captain  ! 

Soon    should    the    army    hear    the    word,    "advance," 

To    meet,  with    vigilance    and    action    swift, 

The    far    divided    forces    of  the    foe, 

Aud    beat    them    one    by    one. 

Perilous  ! 

None    had    the    plan    before    adopted,    none. 

Perilous  ! 

Supplies    renewed    from    what    the  fields   might  give. 

Perilous  ! 

With    foe    behind,   before,  on   either    flank. 

Perilous  ! 

Yet   with   decisive    act,   less    perilous 

Than    long    delay,   our    reinforcements    small, 

While    troop    on    troop    should    gather    to    the    foe, 

86 


Whose    numbers    soon  would    double    thus    our  own. 
rf  was    done  !     and   in    the   Nation's    history 
The    hour    of  sure    deliverance    rang    out  ! 
The  hour  of  hope  had  come,  and  henceforth  wheeled, 
Mayhap    but    slowly    yet    alway   -along, 
The    pointing    linger    to  the    noonday    full. 
Henceforth    to    plan    the    daring    enterprise, 
Henceforth    to    live    where'er    the    foeman    lived 
Became    a    thing    of  ease.      The    great    seed    grew 
To   greater    flowV    and    fruit;    not    aloe-like, 
But    swiftly    climbing    to    its    grand    estate ; 
And    all    the    nation    hailed    its    perfect    form. 


'From  Champion  Hill  the  line  extend  along." 


PART  II.— BOOK  2. 

STORY   somewhere    men    have    told  of 
life 

'  Mid    western    wilds    and     savage    wan 


tonness, 

Where  once,  at  dead  of  night,  the  house  was  stormed, 
And    in    one    room    so    dark    no    eye    could    see, 
Met   the    defenders    and    their    cruel    foe. 
The    fight    went    on    in    silence,   some    slight    stir 
Or    touch    alone    directing    where    to    strike ! 
Nor   saw   they   where    the    foe  was  tho'  they  knew. 

89 


So    in    the    clay    or    darkness,  these    who   fought 
Where    vast    the    field    was,  each    the    other   sought 
Unseeing,  waging    blind    the    game    of  war. 
Upon    this    night    where    stumbles    war    blindfold, 
Now    shall    the    lightning    of  descriptive    words 
Gleam,  and    reveal    the    place    of    actors    each. 
First,  read    this    brief  dispatch,  just    sent    by   Grant. 

CAYUGA,  Miss.,  May   11,   1863. 

My  force  will  be  this  evening-  as  far  advanced  towards 
Jackson  as  Fourteen  Mile  Creek,  the  left  near  Black  River, 
and  extending  in  a  line  as  nearly  east  and  west  as  they  can 
get  without  bringing  on  a  battle.  As  I  shall  communicate 
with  Grand  Gulf  no  more,  except  it  becomes  necessary  to  send 
a  train  with  heavy  escort,  you  may  not  hear  from  me  again 
for  several  days. 

\ 
Then    to    his    aid   he    gives    the    swift    command : 

"  Go,  bid    McPherson    move    his    troops    to-night, 
That    Raymond    he    to-morrow    enter.      Fight 
We    must    before    our    rations    fail,    nor    must 
Our    rations    fail    till    we    have    gained    the    day. 

90 


Say    Sherman    shall    support    his    force,   and    close 
McClernand    follow."     Note    we    now    the    foe 
That    in    the    shock    of   battle    soon    shall    meet 
This    host    and    hurl    it    back    upon    its    path, 
If  less    its    courage    or    its    strength.      And    first 
We    seek    Commander    Pemberton,  who    lists 
While   now    an    officer    thus    rambling    speaks: 
"  With   rapid    march    moved    first    the    enemy, 
But    slow    his    movement    now,  and    any    child 
Could    read    his    purpose.     Since   his    former    feint 
Aimed    straight    at    Vicksburg    after    his    first    fight, 
His    slow    march    centres    on    the    Big    Black  bridge 
And    Edward's    Station.     Vantage    great    had    he 
With    greater    army,  striking    where    he    pleased 
While    we    but   guessed    his    purpose,  holding    force 
It   may  be  right,  it  may  be  wrong,  to  meet  assault. 
But    not    so    great    in   truth    with    plan    revealed 
As    now    it    is. 

And    yet    if  all    unguessed 

91 


That    plan,    with    fifty    thousand    men    at    call,* 
And    Gregg    to    fall    upon    the    foeman's    rear 
And    flank,    when    he    assails    us,    little    fear 
Remains.       Meanwhile    the   troops  \ve  have  are  held 
In   good    position."      Here    his   words    were    stayed, 
For    came   an    orderly    with    message    thus: 
"  Some  stragglers  here  from  Raymond  say  that  Gregg 
Was    beaten   yesterday    and    followed    close 
Toward  Jackson."      Ere    a    fitting   answer    came, 
A    messenger    with    breathless    haste    pressed    near. 
With    this    dispatch    from  Johnston: 

JACKSON,    Miss.,    May    13,   1863. 

I  have  lately  arrived  and  learn  that  Major-General  Sher 
man  is  between  us  with  four  divisions  at  Clinton.  It  is 
important  to  re-establish  communication  that  you  may  be 
reinforced.  If  practicable  come  up  in  his  rear  at  once.  To 
beat  such  a  detachment  would  be  of  immense  value.  All 


*Badeau  seems  to  prove  beyond  question  that  the  available  force 
used  by  Grant  in  the  campaign  proper,  around  Vicksburg,  numbered 
35,000  men.  He  also  shows  that  the  rebel  force  available  must  have 
been  near  60,000. 


the    troops    you     can     quickly     assemble     should    he     brought. 
Time  is    all    important. 

The    need    the    General    saw    yet    hesitant, 

A    council    called,    and    to    his    leaders    said: 

"  This    order,    shall    it    be    obeyed  ?       '  Tis    one 

I    think    most    hazardous."       Straight    they    replied: 

"  A    peril    great    we    know    in    marching    thus, 

But    heed    the    order,    yes."       But    he:    "My    right 

I   use    and    must    against    the    move    decide, 

And    wiser    action    choose.       Grant    from    his    base 

Is    far,    and    long    and    weak    his    line    between 

Must    be.       Cut    this    and    crush    the    force    I    find 

Will    stay  his    course    the    best   and   safer    be." 

J 

With   morn    in    this   dispatch    his    plan    was   told: 

u  To    morrow    morn    I    move    a    heavy    force 

On    Dillon's,  cutting    off  the    enemy. 

Shall    seek    to    force    a    battle    thus    and    choose 

My    ground    to    wait    assault,"1    signed  u  Pemberton." 

The    morn    of  May    that   marked    half  spent  its  life, 

93 


With    one    day    more    begun,   brought    back    reply  : 
u Jackson    has    fallen    and   your    plan    must    fail. 
One    way    alone  remains.       On    Clinton    move 
Direct,    that    we    may   meet    you  there.'1       Then  he, 
Astonished,    said  :       "  Tho1    here    my   army    lies 
Where    I    had   wished    it    much,   yet    must    I    yield. 
Reverse    the    column  !     take    the    Brownsville    road 
And    quick    to    Clinton  !       Crush    we  may  this  force 
Far    from    its    base    and    heaviest    support, 
A    corps    at    most,   so   Johnston    thinks,   and   I. 
—What    means    that    musketry  ? " 

"  I    go    to    see,'* 

Quick    spake    his    aid,  and  went,   but  soon    returned. 
"  I    met    an    orderly    from    troops    which    form 
Our    right.     In    light    or    heavy    force    the    foe 
Advances  !     Our    skirmishers    retire,  and    now 
Artillery  !" 

"  Some    lively    work,  be    sure  T' 
Replied    the    General.     "  What    means    the    move 


I    iail    to    see.     Grant    cannot    have    his    troops 

All   here  in  hand.     The  march, — stay  not  its  course, 

But    add    to    my    dispatch    to   Johnston,  this: 

*  That    heavy    skirmish    tire    is    heard    along 

Our    front.1 ' 

Scarce    out    of    sight    the    messenger 
That    bore    his    order,  when   another    came 
Riding    in    haste    nor    lingered    with    his    word: 
"The    enemy    shows    strength    where  Bowen    leads." 
One    sole    recourse    was    left,   and    that    he    took: 
"Halt!    form   the   troops   for    battle!    and   the    march 
Defer.     Already    swells  the    sound    of  strife. 
Our   left   shall   hold   this    wooded   ridge.       This   road 
Bends    south    beneath    it    and    the    foe    must    come 
Exposed    along    yon    plain,    or    struggle    through 
Ravines    enwalled    like    prisons    to    encage, 
Vine    fettered,    all    who    venture  !      Plant    your   guns 
On    this    bald    top  :    no    better    fort    could    be. 
From    Champion    Hill    the    line    extend    along. 
And    Loring's    forces    hold    the    southern   road." 

95 


•J" 


PART  II.— BOOK  3. 

HILE     now     the     armies     hang    upon 

the    verge 
Of    battle,    yet    delays    the  strife,  turn 

back» 

And    read    the    pages    of    the    vanished    hours, 
Bearing    the    record    strange    of  new,    great    deeds. 

Whence    came    the    force    that    suddenly    appears 
To    check    the    march    of   Pemberton,    and    thwart 
Each    effort    of  the    foe  ?       '  Tis    but    the    fruit. 


97 


Full    grown    and    fair,    whose    potent    germ    we  saw, 
Where   Grant    began    what    now    hastes    on    to    end 
Triumphant.       Clearer    was    his    eye,    who    took 
The    chief  command,    but   Johnston    also    failed 
To    read    the    high   design    of    Grant,     and     lost 
His    city.       Yet    he    sought    to    gather    swift 
The    parted    armies    into    one.       And    this 
Grant    saw,    and    swifter    moved,    and    hasted     more, 
When    to    McPherson    straight    a    messenger* 
Whom    long    before    with    marks    of    deep    disgrace, 
Disloyal    in    his    noisy    word    and    deed, 
Hurlburt    had    sent    with    loud    drum-beat    away, 
(A    faithful    friend    concealed    in    guise  so    strange, 
And    often   proved    in    peril    sharp)    did    come, 
Bearing    the    order   sent    by   Johnston's    hand, 
That   bade    the    Vicksburg   arm}"    strike    the    rear 

*This  Union  spy  had  been  drummed  out  of  Memphis  months  belbr.' 
— to  more  effectually  deceive  the  Confederates. — See  Badeau,  Vol.  i, 
Page  aj2.  [IVo/e.] 


Of  FecTral    host.     Guessed    was    the    plan    before, 
But  now  made  sure.    Grant's  columns  kept  their  march 
Compact,  nor  Johnston  reached  the  place  he  marked 
For    junction    of   his    armies    ere    it    fell 
Before    their    bold    advance.     And    rest    was    slight 
For    these,  for    tidings    came    that    still    the    foe 
From  Vicksburg's  lines  pressed  near;  and  in  the  hours 
That    hesitant    their    chief   did    wait,   came    on 
The    Fed'ral    skirmishers.     And    Grant,  to    keep 
His    purpose    and    ensure    success,   did    bid 
McClernand    hold    the    foe    but    shun    the    fight 
Till    came    his    host    together,   if  the    fight 
Leapt  not  its  bounds.     Nor  yet  was  Sherman  there, 
Tho'  marching  swift;  and   yet   the  force   was  strong 

O  '  •/  c_> 

If   all    engaged.     But    while    they    sought    delay, 
Grown    weary,   Pemberton    the    strength    before 
Did    doubt,  and    his    impatient    speech    broke    forth: 
"Only    a    fire    of  skirmishers!     Is    this 
E'en    now    reconnoissance    in    force,  no    more? 

99 


But    louder    grows    the    musketry!     Our    left, 
Our   centre    wakes    to    battle    fierce!     They    come 
Right    gallantly    to    face    our    fire."     And    thus 
Careful    and    anxious    as   it    well    became 
Him    unto    whom    so    grave   a    work    had    fall'n, 
He  watched  the  battle's  course.     And  watching  thus, 
To    him    one    hasted    with    the   cry:     "Our    troops 
Fall    back    before    th'    impetuous    foe!     We    need 
More    men.     Already    he    has    gained    the    ridge 
And    captured    guns,   how    many    I    know    not!" 
"Then  hold  the  front  and  make  the  road  your  ditch," 
Spoke    he;    "its    upper    side    commands    his    line!" 
With    steady   .fire    the    higher    slope    they    keep, 
Soon  helped  with  other  troops.     "  They  drive  the  foe, 
And    see!     Again    they    hold    the    height   just    lost, 
The    captured    guns    retake,  hurrah !" 

Such    words 

Excited    lips    of  officers    hurled    forth; 
But    scanning    close    the    field    he    ordered    thus: 


u  Charge    yonder    battery    upon   our    left! 
Its    whirling    shot    has    hurt    us    much." 

Like    men 

Both    brave    and    true,  they    go.     Ah,  driven    back! 
Then    must    we    crush,  and    first    of   all,  the    force 
That    slow    retreats,  if  we    would    hope    to    win. 
To    crush    the    foeman's    left    ensures    the    day." 
"More    men!"    breaks    sharp    the    cry    from    aid    be- 

grimmed, 
Blood    stained.     "  We    seemed    to    gain    the    ground 

but    now 

With    reinforcements    come    the    enemy. 
The  guns   are   lost   once  more  ?"  "  What  troops   are 

left," 

The   chief   replies,   "  are  ordered  there.       They  hold, 
Aye,  drive    the    foe!     But    Loring    fails    to    corns. 
His    force    I    ordered   here." 

"Our   left    and    rear," 
Shouts  a  new  voice,  as  foam-white  steed  brings  near 


An    orderly,    "  the    foe    has    gained.     But    now, 

Across    the    far    ravines    and    yonder    field, 

He    charged    upon    us    as    we    sought    to    plant 

Our   batt'ry    in    the    sunken    road    which    bends 

Toward   Edward's   station  west.      The  guns  he  got/1 

"And    cuts    us    from    retreat!       This    must  not  be!1' 

And    Pemberton,    the    peril    new    to     meet, 

Turns,    when    a    second    messenger    thus    speaks: 

'•The    foe    retires!     I    have   but   left    the    place." 

Disaster    still,  and    only   less,  awaits 

His    army   brave;    this    Pemberton    perceives. 

"Lose,  lose   no   time!"   the   stern   command,  "retreat 

We    must    or   effort    vain   to    save    our    force. 

Grant    writh    his    army    rights    united    all. 

And    whence    and  how  they  came  it  boots  not  now. 

Yonder    afresh    his    columns    form    to    charge. 

Quick!    back    to  Vicksburg!    if  the  place  we  keep." 

And   as    disordered    fly   his    troops    along, 

List    to    the    Captain's    word    who    leads    the    host 


Victorious.     "On!    haste    the    Iceman's    flight! 

«_> 

But    what    new    line    is    this  ?    McClernand's    first  ? 
Pursue    the    foe    at    once.     Ere    this    these    troops, 
And    others    with    them,  should    have  swept    away 
With    easy    charge    the    right    of    Pemberton, 
And    closed    upon    his    rear,  to    meet    and   join 
The    force    of   Logan    who    had    gained    his    left, 
And    held,  as    now    I    see,  the    only    road 
By    which    he    could    retreat.     I    called    him    back 
To  save   elsewhere    the    day,    as  seemed  the   need. 
Let    these    so    long:    enji'a^ed,  fall    out,  and    leave 

O  O     O          ' 

To    fresher    troops   the    vigorous    pursuit." 

And    as    they    passed,  a    powder-blackened    man, 

Shouted    in    language    loud    a    question    plain, 

kl  Go    on    and    take    your    part!    we've    had    it    hot. 

Where    have   you    been    all    day  ?" 

And   these    replied: 

••  O,  yonder    in    division    formed    where    field 
Gave    easy    room,  and    listening    to    the    roar 

Of  battle."     Yet    was    one    as    other    brave. 

103 


''i::^^:!!:::!;;!;—'  & 


*<&&&Ki$ffi*& 


"  Before  the  front 
Of  Logan,  mine   they  spring." 


PART  II.— BOOK  4. 


The 

The 

And 

Lo, 

Still 

The 


AST    seen    the    battle's   close  and  known 

the   march 
Of    swift     pursuer  ?        Then     the     field 

behold  ! 

road    is    cleared    of  weary   troops    who    bore 
brunt    of  battle    crowned    with    victory  ; 
double    quick    the    fresh    reserves    press    on  ! 
yonder    seen    and    now    concealed,    and    seen 
farther    on,    a    moment    only,    flies 
beaten    force.       Anon   the    farewell    shot 


Comes    hissing    back    defiance,    while    we    pass 
The   captured    batteries    that    point    to    foes 
They    harm    no   more.       Behold    these    silent    guns  ! 
They    stand   well    hidden    in    the    sunken    road 
Of  height    to    point    with    ease  above    the    side 
Across    yon    field    of  early   growing    wheat 
Whose    welcome    verdure    rests   the    tired    eye. 
What    means    the   golden    haze    that    purple    turns 
Where    slanting  sunbeams  kiss  the  green  and  blue  r 
Ah!    dead  are   they,    brave    men!    from   force   which 

swept 

In    charge    resistless    o'er    yon    open    space 
In    face    of   deadly    fire,  and    took    these    guns, 
And    drove    the    line    that    here    did    lie    concealed 
And  dead  the  steeds  which  drew  the  guns    to  fight, 
Save    one,  this    leader,   in    whose    eyes    the    tears, 
If  e'er    his    kind    may    weep,    seem    starting    now. 
His  -mate    lies    dead    in    harness    at    his    side, 
And    four,    his    fellows,    slain,    lie    close    behind  ; 

,106 


Survivor  sole    in    sorrow's    solitude  ! 
Here    lie   the   gray    and   blue,    and    blue    and    gray, 
The   swift   step    hindering.       And    heeding    ears 
Let    not    that   soldier    have    whom    duty    calls 
Still    onward,   for    the    groans    of   men    come    low, 
With    awful    moan    of   agony;    come    loud 
With    sting    of   pain    that    yet    may    lesser    be. 
And    cries    for    help,  for    water,   if  indeed 
No    greater  boon  were  craved,  where    thirst  so   dire 
Was    but    the    token    of   v    direr    need. 
Halt    not,  but    fly    with    swifter    step    along! 
Perchance    on    yonder    height    our    column    may 
A    barrier    stand    between    the    city    strong 
And    its    defenders    flying    now    swift    before. 
These  trees  that  dwarfed  in  growing,  and  whose  limbs 
Love    earth    far    better    than    the    sky,   where    twig 
With  twig  and  branch  with    branch  conspire  to  bar 
Our    labored    way,  this    densest    underbrush 
Burst  through!  Quick!  form  your  line  e'en  here,  and 
crowd 

10? 


Resistance    clown    in    close    and    true    array, 
For    at    its    farther    edge    you  '11    find    the    foe. 
Gone  ?    Aye,  and    flying    yonder    speeds    the    last. 
By    column    now    advance    o'er    this    high    fence, 
And    spring    with    easy    step    along    this    field 
Of   corn!     In    column    of  division    move 
With    solid    front,  careful    and    slow,  and    now 
Halt,  and    unfold    this    troop    to    single    line. 
Right    wheel    and    speed,  O    swinging    left;    for    ere 
The    movement    ends    the    battle    line    sweeps    on  ! 
Right   flank   and  forward!   Plunge   with   haste  to  find 
This  wide  pool's  depth,  whose  stagnant  flood  breathes 

death, 

And    sullen    bars    our    onward    way,  nor    seek 
Plank    or    the    fallen    tree    to    save    the    plunge. 
That    crack    of   rifle    and    these    hissing   balls 
Urge    to    the    swifter    way.     This    ditch    so    deep, 
Cut    wide    by    sudden    dash    of   water    wild, 
Down    to    its    bottom    sliding,  rolling    go, 

108 


And  quick  its  steep  high  bank  ascend.      Change  front 

Upon   the    right!     O'er    yon    high    barrier    haste 

(Virginia    fences   build    they    here)    and    stand 

In    line    of  battle,   now    amid    the   green 

Of  swaying    oatfield,  hiding    half  the    man, 

And    forming    picture    fairest    war    that    day 

Had    giy'n.     A    left    flank    march    again    leads    o'er 

The   deep  cut   railroad  whose   straight  line   invites 

Our    eager    steps    to   where    the    city    lies  ! 

Not    yet!    the    height    beyond,    with    fence    to  crown 

What    else    were    difficult,    be    this    the    path. 

On,  on !    nor    let    your    foot    a  moment    fail, 

From    flying    step    and    bounding    run,  nor    let 

Your  hand    a  moment    stop    to    catch    whatever 

The    foe    has    but    thrown    from    him   in    his    flight, 

Nor    lift    the    wounded    enemy    aside, 

Nor    press    the    welcome    draught    of  water    cool 

To   parched    lips    whose    call    is    pleading    hard; 

Nor    fold    in  love    the    hands    of  fallen   friend, 

109 


On,   on  !     to    turn    the    flight    to    rout    complete, 
On,  on  !     to    work    disaster    limitless 
If  this    great    work    may    be. 

Beware  !       One    fallen 

Adown    this    gulf !     that    yawns    its    length    along 
Hall    hidden    at    our   feet;    beware,  beware  ! 
The    field  is    furrowed    as    by   giant's    plow 
And    he   who    falls   may    die.       The    twilight    dim 
Turned    rebel,  favors    now    the    foe.       Lo,    gleams 
The   cannon's    sharp    discharge    athwart    the    gloom 
And   here    a    battery    sends    out    its    voice 
Where    blooms    the    garden    fair   of  stately    home. 
Behold    the    guardian    poplar    falls,  cut    clean 
Midway,    by    solid    iron    ball,    and    laughs 
The    cannoneer    at    shot    so    purposeless. 
And    would'st    thou    courage    see,    and    hate,     beheld 
Yon    maiden    seated    quietly,    with    smile 
Of  scorn    for    us    her    foes,    and   tear    of  grief 
For   those    her    friends. 


But    evening    dnrkjns;    halts 
The    column,   for    the    foe    escapes    the   sight. 
And    lo!    along    the    far    extended    lines 
Already    gleam    the    light    of  kindled    fires. 
Rest    now    the    weary    victors    in    their    place, 
While    still    exploding    shells    disturb    the    night, 
Where    burning    cars    the    foe    could    not    remove, 
Hold    heavy    freight    he    would    at    least    destroy. 
Upon    the    front    the    gen'ral    sleeps,    if  sleep 
He    can    where    lie    with    moaning    sad    and    oft 
The    wounded    whom    the    enemy    has    left. 
And  Johnston,    where    is    he  ? 

In    quiet    camp 

To    rest    the    night    as    he    the    day    has    passed: 
To    wait    for   Pemberton's    advance    and    thus 
With    force    united    fight    with    hope    to    vin. 
And    Hist'ry    shows    him    waiting    evermore.* 

* "  On  the  i6th,  -while  this  furious  battle  was  being  fought,  Johnston 
who  had  marched  ten  miles  and  a  half  the  day  before,  rested  Irs 
troops  and  lost  a  day.'' — Badeau,  in  loco. 

in 


For    with    swift    march    and    battle    sharp   has   Grant 
Prevented    junction,  winning    in    each    fray, 
And    beating    each,  and    one   by   one,   the    force 
The    startled    enemy    did    haste    to    send. 
And    sleep    comes    softly    to    the    weary    forms, 
And    leaves    them    like    the    sleeping    slain    of  day., 
And    night    conceals    the    woes    of  wounded    men> 
And    all   seems    silent    with    the    calm    of  peace. 


PART  II.— BOOK  5. 

HE    dawn   is    faint    and   hesitant,    as    if 
Unwilling  to  behold  the  wee  night  hides; 
But     day    must   yet    begin,    an.l    with    it 

tasks 

Hard,    burdensome,   must    have    beginning    too. 
Tho'    scant    his    rest    from    toils    of  yesterday, 
The    fed'ral    chief  thus    speaks    his    early    care: 
"Comrade   this    order    read.     It    came    last    night. 

"WASHINGTON,  D.C.,  n   a.m.,  May   u,  1863. 
If  possible    the    forces    of  yourself    and    Banks    should    be 


8 


united  bet\A~een    Vicksburg    and   Port  Hudson,  so    as  to  attack 
these  places  separately  with  the  combined  forces. — HALLECK. 

"And    shall  we    go  ?    he    asked;    and    Grant  replied: 
"At    once!       Bid    Blair    move    rapidly   and   join 
His    corps    where    Sherman   on    the    right    has     gone 
To    strike    the    foe    at    Bridgeport,    on   the    flank. 
The    pontoon    train   goes    with    him.       It    may    be 
Against    Haines'    Bluff  his  march  will  turn,  for  base 
Or    soon    or    late    we    need    again.       Meanwhile, 
On    road   direct    we/ 11    press    the    enemy, 
And    hold    him    in    his    place,    or    if  he    move 
On    Sherman,    hang    upon    his    flank    and    rear. 
The  bridge,  it  must  be  saved."     And  while  he  spake, 
Beyond    the    bridge    thus    Pemberton 
His    purpose    to    his    officers    made    known: 
"  Compelled    on    yesterday    to    yield    with    loss, 
And    waiting    Loring's    column    here,    we'll    hold 
The    bridge    and    yonder    line    to-day.       The    works 
So   strong   I  dread    no    front    attack,    but    fear 

114 


At    Baldwin's    ferry    movement    on    my   flank, 
Or    else    at    Bridgeport,    flank    upon    my    left, 
Already   comes    the    sound    of  skirmish    fire." 

But   pause   we    now    until    the    close    of  day 
Thus    well    begun,    and    hear    our    poet    tell 
What     deeds     it    wrought.       And    first    this    verse 
we   read : 

SABBATH    BELLS. 


Ringing    their    music   away    and    afar 
On    the    wings    of  the    radiant   morn, 
Breathing    of  God    and    his    love    for    men, 
Of  a    Christ   for    the    whole    world    born, 
O    bells   of  the    morning!  O    sweet    Sabbath    bells! 

Thy    music   forever   be    heard! 

Of  the    song    of  the    seraphs    that    rises    and    swells 
In    its    rapturous    rhythm   o'er   the    Paradise    dells, 
The    echo   ye    bring    us,    O    sweet    Sabbath    bells, 
And   the   heart's    holy    music   is    stirred. 

"5 


Ye  speak    of   devotion,   ye    whisper  of  cheer, 
With  your    message   the    tempest    is    calm, 
And  the  heart  that  would  sink  'neath  its  woe  and  its  fear, 
With    the    Healer   ye    praise    finds  a   balm. 
*  /    bells    of  the    morning!     O    sweet    Sabbath    bells! 

Thy    music   forever    be    heard! 

Of  the    song    of  the    seraphs  that    rises    ana  swells 
In    rapturous    rhythm    o'er    the    Paradise    dells, 
The    echo   ye   bring   us,    O    sweet    Sabbath    bells, 
And   the    heart's    holy    music    is    stirred. 

O    clangor    of  cannon!    O    dissonance  deep! 

And    battle's    alarm    harsh    and    hoarse! 

While    crashing    and   tearing    the    shot    demons    sweep, 

And    the    rifle    ball    hisses    its    course; 
Cries    of  the    wounded   and    moans   of  the    dying, 
— Here    dead    and    dead    there,   O   Death! 
With    the    laughter    of  Hell    thy   laughter    is    vicing, 
In    ill    to    outdo,  each    the    other    is    trying; 
Ye    mock    at    the    dead,  and    ye    sport    with    the    dying, 
And   spend  thus    the   Sabbath's   soft   breath! 

O    clangor   of  cannon!    O   chime   of  the   bells  I 
Is   the    morning   of   wonder   afar, 

zx6 


When  the  clangor  shall    melt  in  the   chime  as  it  swells, 
Unscared    by    the    larum   of   war? 
Ring,  bells    of  the    morning,  ye    sweet    Sabbath    bells, 

Ring   ever   your   music   along, 

'  Till    the    song    of  the    seraphs    that    rises    and    swells 
In    rapturous    rhythm    o'er  the    Paradise    dells, 
And    sweeter    than    music    of  sweet    Sabbath    bells, 
Greets    earth   with   its    rapturous    song. 

DEAR    FRIENDS:     These    words    found  life  as  home 
ward    turned 

My    eager    thoughts.     'Tis    Sabbath    eve,   and    yet 
I    knew    it    not,  till    came    the    hour    of    calm 
Amid    the   busy    day.     Since   early    morn 
Ere    light    had    burst    its    eastern    prison    door, 
On    skirmish    line    or   battle    front    weVe    been. 
The    rest    of    night    was    brief  that    fell    upon 
The   beaten    foe    and   swift    pursuing    troops. 
With    growing    day,  and    while    perchance    at    home 
1Mid    thoughts    of  peace    akin    to    all    the    calm 
Of  sky   that    smiled    in    cloudless    beauty    there, 

117 


Of  air    that   echoed    songs    ot  gladsome  .birds, 

Sweet   with  the    fragrant   breath  of  op'ning    flow'rs, 

You    passed    to    worship    God    in    prayer  and  praise, 

Our    column    pushed    upon    the    enemy. 

Strong    was    their    line,    begirt    by    winding    stream, 

Treacherous    in    depth    and    bed;    itself  held    close 

Within    the    lance    points,    thrust    by  prostrate  trees, 

An    abatis    by    nature    strong,    by    man 

Increased,    to    hold    afar    and    long    his    foe. 

Long   time    artillery    and    musket    waged 

A    noisy    battle,    till    upon    our    right 

And    close    beneath   the    river's   bank,  through  copse 

Most    dense,    a    column    forced    its    way    and  found 

A    path    left    open,    narrow    tho'    it    was, 

Yet    wide    enough    to    give    the    soldiers    room 

To    pierce    the    foeman's    left.       No   time   had    he 

In    this,    his    sharp    surprise,    to    mass    his    men, 

Or   meet    what    then    his    need    was,    charge    along 

The   front,    from    right    to    left.       The  day  was  won 

118 


With    prisYiers    taken.       Some    we    captured    while 
They    sought    the    bridge    that  burned  beneath  the 

flames 

Which    troops    in    safety    on    the    western    shore, 
Had   kindled    in    their    wild    alarm.      And    some 
Surrendered    in    the    rifle    pits,    with   flags 
By    ready    cotton    bale    supplied,    upheld 
On    bayonet    or    rammer. 

Write    I    this, 

While    sheltered    from    the    slowly    sinking    sun, 
By    friendly    oak    with    Spanish    moss     grown    gray. 
An   hour    ago    your    great,    glad    letters    came, 
And    gave    the    dates,  forgot    or    noticed    not 
Before,    that   told   the    tale    of  battle    waged 
On    this,  God's    day    of  rest.      Yet    all   the    strife 
That  marred  the  morn  scarce  matched  the  din  of  eve 
When    rose    the    shout,    '  A    mail  !      Ho,    news    from 

home  ! ' 
But    now    the    calm    earth    seems    to    sleep    beneath 


The    lullaby   of  eve,  whose    shadows    haste 

To    meet    the    laggard   legions  of  the    night. 

Softly    the    zephyr    fans    the    cheek  !       The    day 

That    woke    with    thunder   peal   and   shook    its   locks 

Before    the    battle    blast,  will    close    its    eyes 

And    softly    die    as    ever    died    a   day 

In    Paradise.       May    evY}'    day    of  storm 

So    surely    end    in    peace    and    be    at    eve 

What    vet    'twere    better    all    its    hours    had   been. 

J 

But    while    the    daylight    stays    and    waits    the    line, 
Beside    this    river    go    and    note    the    busy    toil 
Which    after    conflict    short    and    sharp,  awaits 
The   victors.       O'er     the    stream    the    troops     must 

haste 

And    lo,  along   yon    plain    are   brought    the   bales 
Compact    and    huge,  of  cotton,  yet    so    light 
The   waves    but    take    and    toss    and    hold    above 
The    changeful    surface    like    a    pleasing    toy. 
On   these,'  securely  joined    and    smoothly    framed 


The    level    planks    from    friendly   houses    lie. 
Meanwhile,  the    loft}*    trestle    falls    and    floats 
A    bridge,  with    skill    devised,  whose    top    the    gin 
Despoiled,  makes    smooth    a    passage   way  and   safe. 
And    see    yon   forest    trees  'which    grow    along 
The    river's    bank,  are    felled    from    either    side 
And    top    to    top    made    fast,  lie    all    the    stream 
Across,  upholding,  too,  its    solid    floor, 
Secured    with    ease    from    builded    barn    or   home. 
There    file    McClernand's    vet  Vans    now;  here   pass 
With    steady,    sweeping  -tread    McPherson's    troops, 
While    on    the    right    the    gallant    Sherman    hastes, 
And  right    and    left    the    forces    face    the    foe." 


131 


_ 


"Thus  mused  the  General! 
Then  to  his  tru.-tv  ;ud  he  irave  command: 
'Make  out  the  crcler  lor  assault.'" 


PART  II.— BOOK  6. 


AST    fell   the    shadows    of    the    gath'ring; 

gloom, 
But   still  across   the    stream   and  through 

the     night, 

Long,  long   was    heard    the    heavy    muffled    sound 
Like    low,  far    thunder    deep,    continuous, 
That    marked    the    ready    column's    onward    march, 
Where    lay    the    fated    city    sought    so    long. 
And   While    amid    the    gloom    they    haste,  yet    find 
Their    progress    often    barred    in   path    unknown, 


123 


By    natures    forces,   not   the    foe,  who    speed 
With    reckless    step,  forgetful    of  their    line, 
Within    the   walls    of   Vicksburg,    Pemberton 
Order    thus    seeks    to    bring   from    chaos    mad. 
"Haste,  haste,  and    form   these   stragglers    into  line! 

Scarce    one    command    remains    intact.     The    road 

i 
From  Big  Black  bridge  is  thronged  with  men.     What 

guns 

Are    these  ?"     But    if  reply  they  made  who  passed, 
Their  voice   was    lost    in    sound   tumultuous, 
That    rolled    confusion   through   the  shoreless  gloom, 
But    dimly    seen   three    lonely    cannon    passed, 
Survivors    swift    from    out    that    awful    chase 
Begun   a    score    of  days    before,  and    now 
Near   ended,  winning    too    the    race    well    run. 
Well  might  the  voice  that   sought  their  names  to  tell 
Grow  faint    and    fail    from    grief  that    still   held  dear 
The  loved  and  lost  —  the  three-score   guns  and  more 
That    silent   lay    forever,   or    had    giv'n 

124 


Their    iron    hearts    to    foes    who    sought    and   won, 
With    suit    impetuous. 

But    thought    of   loss 

Was    swallowed    up    in    fear    that    froze    their    hearts- 
And    left    them   seeking    each    his    safety    where 
Slight    safety    seemed.      And  yet  there  passed   along 
With    soldiers    all    disheartened,  citizens, 
Who    from    the    country    hastened    to    the    town, 
Fearing    the    foe    behind,  and   fearing    too 
The    fate   before;    great   pendulums    of  dread 
That    found    no    resting   place.       And    thus    the   dayr 
The    bright,  fair    Sabbath,   shining    down    from    Godr 
That   brought   no   peace   at   morn   to    restless    heartsr 
Fled   at    the    last    to    'scape   the    scene    that    grew 
More    mad    and    wild    as    slowly    wheeled    its    hours. 
And  still  among  the  crowd  that  thronged  the  gates 
Stayed    Pemberton   to    mend    the    ill    what    way 
He  could,  nor  yet  refrained  his  speech.     "  Why  broke 
The    line    to-day   I    know    not,  but    the    rout 

"5 


Was    all   the   foe    could    wish    and    soon    became 

A  thing  of  sauve  qui  pent.     Pass   through   the   town 

And    reassure    these    citizens.     A    care 

They  give  us  far  beyond  their  worth.'1     His   words 

This    cry    did    stop,  the    voice    of  citizen 

Rushing    with    heedless    speed    alarmed    along: 

•"They  come!  Grant's  troops  are  at  the  outer  line!" 

And    on    the   shout    went,  till    a    woman's    scream 

Proclaimed    afar    that    Grant    had    got    within. 

•"And    such    the    foolish    fear!     Not    o'er   the    stream 

At  either    ferry    early,  he    must    now 

First    bridge    the    Big    Black    river.      Then    may   he 

Press    onward    to    the    town,  nor    then    these    works 

Reach  ere  to-morrow  morn.     Else    fear    might    have 

Some  place.     For  here  confused,  the  frightened  crowd, 

Men    wild,  and    women   worse,  excited    talk. 

But    post    the    fresher    troops    upon    the    line 

And    rail}'    all    the    fugitives    at   once ! 


126 


To-morrow    shall    again    an    army    see."  [rest 

And  while  they  toiled  the  whole  night  through,  brief 

The    Fed'ral    army,    marching    late,   did    take. 

But    when    the   Sabbath    night    was  dead,  and    morn 

•Came    laughing    to    the    funeral,  his    torch 

Uplit    the    way    and    on    the    columns    pushed. 

And    first    the    ready    Sherman    struck    the    bluffs 

Against  whose  base  long  months  before  had    dashed 

His    host    of  heroes    like    the    surging    sea; 

And    on    the    height    that    then    defiant    loomed, 

And  hurled    its    wrath    in    solid    blaze    of  fire, 

To    be    endured,    not    conquered,    stood    this    chief. 

Below    him    in    their    silent    sleep    did    lie 

The    brave,    true    men  who  sought  in   vain  the  crest 

c) 

That    now    his    proud  foot  trod.      Not  theirs  to  win, 
But    die;    their    comrades    not    to    die    but.    win; 
And   yet    to    die    was    most.       While  thus  he  stood, 
Unchecked    the    strong    emotions    swept    their    tide 
Of  triumph   o'er    his    soul.     Supremer   still 


The  moment  than  he  guessed,  whose   eyes  saw  not, 

And    yet    did    see    from    that    tall    cliff,  alar, 

The   deep    Atlantic's    restless    ebb    and    flow. 

Nor    soon    did    speech    the    solemn    silence    break, 

Tender    with    memories    and    yet    sublime, 

With    grandest    deeds    accomplished,  but    at    last, 

The    lofty,  gen'rous    soul    within    him    stirred, 

Sherman    to    Grant    who    by    his    side    had    stood 

Calm  as  the  height  that  held  them,  turned  and  spake: 

"Until    this   moment   came,  I    never  thought 

Your    expedition    a    success  !     The    end 

I    ne'er    could    clearly    see    till    now.     But    this, 

This    is    success,  this    a    campaign,  if  ne'er 

We   take   the    town."* 

And    calm    and    silent    still 

He  heard   whose    plan,   but  formed    and    all    untried  r 
Had   been   yet    one    with    plan    accomplished    full, 
And    answered    not,  but    passed    to.    other    lines. 

*See  Badeau,  Vol.  i,  p.  281. 

128 


And   next   McClernand,  farther    sent    yet    reached 
The   foe   upon    the    left.     Midway   McPherson    led, 
And   when   the   morn  to   day   full    grown,    passed    01 
To   brief  and    dark    old    age    and    death,  and    lay 
Hid    gloomily    in   night's    thick    pall    a    corpse, 
The    city    strong    a    living   wall    enclosed. 

9  I29 


v 


Where  lowland  snugly  lay  within 

The  e'.bow  of  the  stream. — BOOK  T    ij:trt  3. 

PART  III.— TH1     RIVER    CITY. 
I. 

HAT    time    the     first    men    lived     and 
,          wrought    their    tasks, 
Mound    builders   old  and   silent,  or  the 

race 

Before   their    day,  whose    history    is    dead, 
The    mighty    river    north    to    south,  unnamed 
Or    named    by  word    lost    from   the    speech   of  men, 
Swept    on.     Mayhap    its    current    touched    the    sea 
Halfway    its    present   course ;    but    when    at    last 


The    sunken    continent    its    shoulder    thrust 

Above    th'    unwilling    waves,  lo,  southward    rose 

High   o'er   the    level    plain    a   mighty    shore 

That    barred    its    flow    and    marked    its    destiny,. 

To    sweep    its    current    central    through    a    land 

Held    by    one    nation,  though    the    future    kept 

The  germ  as  yet  ungrown.     Here,  here  should  come 

The    strangers    from    the    shores   that    bend    to    meet 

The   kiss    of  ocean    east    and    west,  to    look 

Each    in   the    other's    face    and    see   the    face 

Of  brother,  here    to    share   one    fate    for    aye  ! 

Its    voice,  through    ages    long    forgot,  had    sung 

"  I    know    the    North,    I    know    the    South,  and  both 

Are    mine    forever.       All   the    way    I    bear 

The    waters    chilled    beneath    the    winter's    breath. 

To    sunny    fields    with    summer's    kisses    warm. 

» 

The    North    is    mine,    for    there    my    life    begins, 
The    South    is    mine    for   there    my    life    doth    end. 
One   land    I    know,  and   if  from   West   and    East 

13* 


I    call    my    children   to    my    side,    I    bind 
With    surer    chain    the    North    and    South." 

O    voice ! 

Speak  on  through  all  the  years  that  man  shall  krow. 
Then    lofty    was    the  shore,    but    lo,    its    breadth 
Once    gained,   was  smooth  and  lay  the  stream  along 
Plateau    of  nature    fair    in    early    days. 
But   storm    and    gathered    flood     through    years     un 
known, 

Had    marred    its    level    face    and    dug    deep   paths 
Or   here    or    there,    till    rivulets    had    grown 
To    larger    tide,    and    pressed    in    haste    along, 
Beneath    the    frown    of  wooded    hillsides    steep 
To    tell    their    triumph    to    the    river    great. 
And    now    the    shore    a    name   possessed   and    homes 
Uprose,  that  kinship  claimed  with  homes  that  marked 
O'er    all    the    land    the    nation    one    and    new. 
And    now    the   shore    a    hostile  camp    became, 
And  vexed  the  one  great  stream  alway  with  thought, 

133 


To    bid   it    flow    through    nations    twain,  and    boast 

No    more    of    one    life    spent    amid    one    land. 

O    Vicksburg!     strong    and    fair    upon   your    hills, 

And    walled    about   with    rugged,  bristling    front, 

Nature's    bluff  parapets,  repelling   touch 

With    trenches    deep,  hid    oft    by    trailing    vine, 

And   doubly    strong    and    doubly    dangerous, 

With    man's   own    skill,    proud    though    in    conscious 

strength, 

To-day   you    smile,  low  hangs  your   doom  and  near! 
Unheeded    speaks    the    river,  and    it    seeks 
Ally,  and    holds    you    in    its    circling    arm 
Till    other    hands    shall    chain    your    spirit    wild, 
And    give    again    one    river    to    one    land. 
See    now    along    the    hills    that    face    your    front 
Of  massive    fort    and    sinuous    rifle    trench, 
The    nation's    army    lifts    its    banners    high  ! 
Abruptly    plunge    the    deep    ravines    along, 
Straight    from   their   top    to  base  in  tortuous  course, 

134 


Crowding    the    slender    rivulet    below, 

Yet    now    discovered    to    their    lowest    depths 

By    shrieking    shell    and    whistling    canister. 

Near    and    yet    nearer    draws    th'    encircling    host, 

And  deep- voiced   cannon    speaks   and  sharper   note 

Of  rifle,  as    the    single    skirmisher 

Steals    through    the    waving   grass    and   lurks    behind 

The    friendly    nook    dug    by    the    rushing    wave, 

Or    sends    the    unexpected    ball    from    place 

Hid    by    the    breastwork    of  the    fallen    tree. 

Now    these    are    met    by    like    array,  and    swift 

The    minie    speeds    and    strikes    th?    unwary    foe, 

From  shelt'ring  boughs  of  spreading  oak   sent  forth, 

And    not    unnoticed,  for    the    watchful   eye 

Has   seen   the  thread    of  smoke    betraying   foe, 

And    pierced   by    answ'ring  shot,  as   falls  the    game, 

So    falls    the    rifleman    to    earth.       And    thus, 

With    skill    and   courage    matched,  or    with    device 

Deceiving    or    well    known,  each   striving    seeks 

'35 


Advantage.       Nor    alone    the    skirmish    front 

Has    faced    the    danger.       Line    on    line,    with    step 

Now  swift,  where  clear  the  space,  now  slow,  as  dense 

And    wisely    difficult,  shaped    well    by    foe, 

The    fallen    trees,    compact,    a    bristling    wall 

Oppose,  the    battle    columns    come ! 

O'er    abatis 

That  checks  their  march,  and  holds  with  cruel  hand 
Their    hearts,    a    throbbing    target    for    the    foe; 
O'er  yawning  chasm  with  brambles  dense  concealed, 
Low    drooping,  winding    in    and    out,  or    vine 
With    leafy    verdure    grown,  to    yield    in    haste 
To    eager    step,  and    hurl    sometimes    to    death 
The    falling    soldier,    nature's    snare;    o'er    all 
And    nearer    cordons    strong    of    armed    men, 
Approach   the    hills    whose    rugged    front    protects 
Brief  space    the    fated    city.       Hither   come  ! 
While    halted    here    this    battle    line    awaits 
The    march    of  column    on    the    right.       This    house 


Is    large,    and    where    the    soldiers    stand    arrayed 
A    garden    lies,    and    fair,    with    early    plants 
Whose  freshness  wins  the  praise  of  men  well  taught 
In    work    like    this.       But    lo!    a    curious    soul 
Has    thought    the    soil    full    loose    e'en    to    the   depth 
A   bayonet    at    least    may    search.       Full    wise, 
Taught    by    the    lessons    of  the    passing    days, 
He    straight    begins    t'    upheave    the    surface    smooth 
And    not    in    vain.       Supplies    in    trenches  long, 
Or    box,    or    barrel    round    stand    soon    in    view, 
Of  ware    so    delicate    it   ill    befits 
The    soldier's    hand,    of   food    substantial,    meet 
For    any    soldier's    taste;    all    this    is    seen, 

-  Scant    food    to  nourish    growth  of  garden  roots— 
And    only    seen.       The    cry    of    "forward"    sends 
Still    on    the    column    to    its    work.      Approach 
And    note    with    me    this    regimental    line, 
Nor    doubt    the    easy    record    from    the    dawn. 
McClern.ind's    vet'rans    these,  and  while    they  swept 

137 


With    steady    tread,    upon    the    battle    bent, 

To  do  and   dare   what   tits   the  soldier  true, 

No    less    obey    in    lighter    task,    the    few 

To    forage    ordered.      Lo!     Achilles'  brawn 

Avails    not,  fed    on    air;    and    now    a    score 

Ol    days    have    sought    their    journey    west 

Through    vales    and    groves    of   fragrant  spring,  and 

pressed 

With    dainty    robes    of  May    the    flowers    among, 
Yet    found    their    garments    crimsoned    in    the    dews 
Of   battle — silent    now    amid    their    dead,— 
Since    from    the    friendly    shore    the  vet  Vans    came, 
Since    friendly    hand    the    ready    food    supplied.* 
Meanwhile,  with    but    a   single    day    between, 
When    once    the    guarded    train    its    scant    supply 
The    army    brought,  the    foeman's    land    did    yield 

*  Grant  started  with  an  average1  of  two  days'  rations  in  haversacks- 
Only  five  days'  rations-  had  been  issued  in  twenty  days. — See  Badeau, 
Vol.  /,  fage  284. 

I3S 


The    flesh    of  ox,  or    fowl,  whose    flight    was    vainy 

Or    treasured    grain,  whose   mixed    meal,  unsalt, 

Spread    on    the    slanting    board    before    the    fire, 

Gave    loaf   of  sweetness    marvelous.     Nor    yet 

Did    every    day    the    full    supply    provide. 

And    thus,  now    fed    upon    sufficient    fare, 

Now    knowing    hunger's    pangs,  amid    the    march 

Of   rain    and    mire,   and    where    the    deep  dust  sent 

Its    clouds    alpng    beneath    a    blazing    sun, 

To    sleep    at    night    brief  hour    where    battle    raged 

Or    watch    the    stars    from    lonely    picket    post. 

Full    fed    or  hungry    t  was    but    one    to    these 

Who    fought    the    nation's    battle,    fought    and    won.. 

Upon    the    lighter    task,  familiar    grown, 

The    men    depart  and    soon    have    found    supply, 

And    roils    of  wheaten    meal   prepare,  to    vie 

In    size,  if  else   they   fail,  with    those    the    hand 

Of  skillful   housewife  shapes;   while  death  comes  swift 

To    lordly    leader  and    his    loyal    flock, 

139 


The    loud-voiced    gobbler    gasping    out    his    breath, 
The    first    to    suffer    for    his    country's    good, 
And    add    his    humble    strength    our    cause    to    win ! 
Up  with    these   baskets    burdened    for   the    nonce 
With    royal    feast,  and    haste    the    front    to    gain! 
Heed   not  these   scattering  balls,  and  pause  not  here 
Upon    the    torn    and   bleeding    edge    of  war's    array, 
Whose   crimson    fringes    fright    the    timid    soul; 
But    speed    with    wise    regard    to    safety    still, 
And    let    these    heroes    break    the    long    day's    fast. 
And    here    they    stand    in    order    firm,   behind 
The    crown    of  this    long,  slanting    ridge,   to    move 
This    moment    or    the    next,   or    next,   or    wait 
The    ev'ning   shadows    as    the    fight   may    need. 
"Ho,   dinner    come    at    last!"    is    now    the    shout 
Whose  joyous    cry    salutes    the    ear,    nor   flag 
E'er    rallied    men    with    swifter    steps    than    this. 
u  Attention!"    is    the    stern    demand;    "Fall    in!" 
And    Tantalus    ne'er    felt    a    keener    pang, 

140 


As    swift    the   water   fled    or   swayed   the   fruit 
Beyond    his    outstretched    hand,    than    these,     whose 

grasp 

Almost    possessed,    and    failed    of  food    so    near. 
On,    on,    to    climb    the    height!    On,    on,    amid 
This    volleyed    grape,  that    bounds    in    reckless   leaps 
Along    the    solid    earth,    sent    from    the    gun 
Yon    yellow    fort    protects.       Now,    seek    this    shade 
Of  meeting    boughs    o'er    trickling    stream,    enwalled 
By    kindly    slopes,    and    forward   haste,   concealed 
A    moment,   soon    again    to    come    to    view. 
"  Close    up!"    and    on    this    hillside    halt,   and    lie 
With    face    upon    its    soft    greensward.     Meanwhile 
Above,   where    best    avails,   the    skirmishers 
Of  all    the    army's    far    extending    front 
Engage    with    added    force,  the    foeman    now 
Forced    to    his    works    and    held   within.     Note   here 
How    steadily   the   red    stream    flows    along 
This    vale,   so    late    the    home    of  murrrfring    brook. 


'On    stretchers    some,   and    some    by   comrade^   hand 
Upborne,   the    surgeons    seek.     And    some    no    more 
The    help    of  an}"    earthly    skill    will    need. 
The    top    of  this    green    height    such    fountains  start, 
While    here    and    there    the    hissing    ball    has    found 
The    waiting    soldier    on    the    slope    below, 
Whose    red    blood    swells    the    current    on    its    way. 
And    wrhat    a    demon's    shriek    is    heard,   as    speed 
A    score  of  shells    but   just    above    the    earth 
To    bound    and    burst    upon    the    mating   slope 
Behind!      "Fix    bayonets!"    the    order    sharp, 
And   rings   the  steel,   and   forms   the   line   to   charge! 
1Twas    task    assigned    to    earlier    day,   delayed 
Because    of  distance    far    to    march,    delayed 
Because    of  stubborn    fight    of  foe,   and    now 
Delayed    upon    this    front,   that    lines    beyond 
May    nearer    come, — and    still    the    stubborn    fight 
'Goes    on.     Long    minutes   these   \vhile   sinks   the   sun 
With    lustre    dimmed,   upon    his    curtained    couch 


Of  erorsreous   clouds,   and   no  voice -shouts  ^'advance!" 

™  O  ' 

The    rim    of  yonder    hill    horizon    makes, 

To    close    the    view    of  conflict    raging    far, 

That    e'er    repeats    itself  from    slope    to    slope, 

And    rolls    its    terrors    near    to    other    lines. 

But    one    mind    guides    and    plans    no    other    task 

For    these    to    da}-    than    hold    their    close    advance, 

And  breast  the  storm  whose  answ'ring  tempest  must 

By  them  be  chained.    The  night  comes  on.     The  glow 

Of  feeble    fires    along    the    vale,   uplights 

The    shadows,   else    almost    unseen,   and    here 

A    hungry    soldier    dares    approach    and    place 

His    vet  Van    tin    cup    o'er    the    tiny    flame. 

Soon    bubbles    sport    and    play,   the    moment    wise 

To    add    the    grains    the    bayonet    has    crushed 

Of  coffee,   treasured    long    for    hour    like    this. 

And    lo !    now    floats    its    fragrant    breath    along 

And    many    a    soldier's    heart    with    envy    burns. 

In    triumph    large    the    soldier    lifts    his    cup 


With    motion    swift,    for    rifle    balls    begin 

To    seek    the    fire,   but    now    he    rests    amid 

The    farther    shadows    where    the    fallen    tree 

A    friendly    seat    provides.      A    comrade    tries 

The  plan,  but   scarce  the  cup  has  placed,  when  sharp 

Upon    its    armor    strikes    the   humming    ball, 

And    loud   jests    greet    the    awful    loss    ot    war. 

None    merrier    than    he    who    won    success 

Where    failed    his    comrade,    but    his    words   midway 

Are    stopped    forever   by    the   unseen    stroke 

Of  leaden    messenger,   and    falls    he   there, 

The    fair    brow    crushed,   the    spirit    gone    for    aye! 

Quenched   now  the   fire  that   wrongly  burned   at   all, 

And    sleep    is    sought    if  come    it    may    to    forms 

That    prostrate    lie,   where    lie    they    must,   upon 

The    earth    with    naught    but    sky    above,   amid 

The    chilling    touch    of  southern    night    and    dew. 

Tho'    supperless    when    found    the    weary    march 

Its    close    at    midnight's    hour   on   yesterday, 

i44 


And    with    the    fast    unbroken    still,   with    hand 

Upon    the    rifle    clasped;    it    yet    is    theirs 

To    sleep,   and    heed    not    anxious    cares    of  day. 

Yet    wait    and   watch   with   me  the   morn's  approach 

And    note    the    fortunes    still    of  this    array. 

Now    faint    and    fainter    shine    the    stars,    and    now 

Their    silent    march    has    almost    closed,   and    camp 

Called    yonder    -.n    the    far    dark    fields    of  space 

Where    fails    as    yet    the    sun's    relentless    chase. 

Or    here    or    there    a    lonely    star    remains 

To    picket    the    retreating    host,   and    feint 

Possession    of  a    field    already    lost. 

Lo,    in    the    east,   in    scarlet    uniform, 

The    skirmishers    of  da)'    approach    with    step 

So    soft,    no    ear    has    heard    their    tread,   and    now 

Surprised,   the    earth    lies    captive    in    the    arms 

Of  dawn.     Yet    ere    the    sun    arise    to    know 

And    claim    his    vast    dominions,   ever    won 

As   ever   lost    in    order    sure    and    true, 

10  145 


The   caretul    whisper    wakes    the    armed    camp, 
And    lo,  once    more   the    loaded    baskets   wait, 
And    fast,  long    kept,   is    broken    with    a    will. 
What    boots    it    that    the    foeman's    guns    command 
This    valley    small,   if  foemen    sleep    so    well  ? 
Now,   now    is    heard    the    cry,    advance,    advance ! 
And    o'er    the    ridge    exposed    the    soldiers    haste, 
While   wakes   the    drowsy    foe   at    last    to    hurl 
Wrath    on    escaping    ranks    that    feel    light    harm. 

146 


PART  III.— BOOK  2. 


HE    city    strong   by  one    supreme    assault 

^    Would  fall,  if  I  may  trust  the  outlook  fair. 
Pf 

From    these    commanding    heights,    hard 

won    from    foe, 
A    resolute    and    vigorous    charge   by   all 
Must    break    his    stubborn    lines. 

Nor   wise    to    wait 

While   Johnston    gathers    force,    with    haste  supplied, 
To    come    upon   my   rear.       Between    the   two, 

H7 


The    garrison    within,    the    hosts    without, 

Defeat    might    follow;    but    with   Vicksburg  stormed, 

'Twere    easy    to    turn    and    crush    the    rest, 

And    ask    no    aid    to   join    us    in    our    task. 

And    restless    lies    my    army    here.       To    them, 

Untaught    defeat,    yon    line    is    but    a    taunt, 

And    nerved    is    every    arm    to    sweep    the    foe 

From    this,    the    prize    long   sought.       Already  come 

Impatient    murmurings    from    courage    held 

In  leash.     Through  Vicksburg,  say  they  roundly  bold, 

Their    march    can    be    till    river    flood    shall    stay 

Their   steps.     Succeed    we    may    not,  yet    the    town 

Seems    in    our    grasp,   and    grasp    it    too,   we    shall, 

Or    trying,   fail.     Their    force    in    numbers,   what  ? 

Above   ten  thousand   strong!     But  twice  that?    No! 

Midway    the    count,    if  judge    I    not    amiss, 

Two    men    outside,   to    one    within,   with    hearts 

Victorious    these,   and    beaten    those,    and    faint, 

We '11  gain    the    day."     Thus    mused    the    General: 


Then    to    his    trusty  aid    he    gave    command: 
"Make    out    the    order    for    assault!     Along 
The    whole    line    charge    to-morrow    morn,   and    see 
That  each  corps   closely    scan  the  ground  o'er  which 
Their    troops    must    move;    and    send    artillery 
—What  guns  and  most  that  may  be  used  with  skill— 
To    place.     In    columns    charge    with    front    as    wide 
As    these    ravines    allow.      With    bay'nets    fixed, 
In    light    array    and    tire    reserved    till    stormed 
The   outer    works,    push    on    the  troops.'1     And  then 
To    Porter   of  the    fleet   dispatches   thus: 
"At    ten    to-morrow    I    assault    the    lines 
And    urgently    request    your    aid.     Your    fleet 
Below    the    city    send    and    shell    the    works 
That  hour!     And  if  the  night  were  passed,  with  shells 
Hurled    from    your    mortar    boats    upon    the    town 
Great    would   the    vantage   be."     So  passed  the  day 
That    added    one    unto    the    score    of    clays 
Ma}'   gave   of  beauty    and    of  battle    dark. 

149 


Came  night,  but  not  with  rest.     Through  all  the  hours 
Whose    veiled    eyes    looked    dimly    clown    on    life, 
The    steady    beat    of  awful    iron    hail 
Sounded,     its    great    globes    dropping    horrible 
Upon    the    city.       These    the    river    sent, 
Holding    with    care    the    thick-lipped    mortars    six, 
Cradled    in    boats    kept    gently    near    that    shore 
Adverse,    where    lowland    snugly    lay    within 
The    elbow    of  the    stream.       On    its    broad    breast 
All    night    it    nursed    the    gunboats    darklv    grim, 
And    bade    them    hurl    their    hatred    on   the    town. 
On    land,    with    early    morn,    the    storm    awoke, 
And    drove    its    hurricane    of  steel    and    flame, 
On    Vicksburg.       Where    yon    lofty    hill    its    crown 
Uplifts,    before    McPherson's    line    stands    Grant, 
That    all    the    coming    conflict    he    may    view. 
The    always    ready    Sherman    holds    the    right. 
Midway    between,    McPherson,    trusty,    waits. 
Far    on    the    left,    impetuous,    behold 

150 


McClernancl    with    his    chiefs.     Of  these, 
Hovey    the    far    flank    holds    among    the    »een; 
Beyond    the    sight    the    brave    McArthur    keeps 
Space    to    the    river    from    his    corps    removed. 
Next    Hovey,    Austerhaus,    whose    English    speech 
Is     broken;     not     his     deeds,     for    none    more    brave 

than    he, 

Divisions    main    were    these,   and    that    which    lay 
Beside    them    on    the    right,    Carr    led;    of  speech 
Not    loud,   but    speaking    more    in    act.     And    next 
Came    Smith,    the    fiery,   like    the    molten    stream 
Down    Etna's    side,   nor    careful    in    smooth    words. 
And    Quimby,   of  McPherson's    corps,   next    lay; 
And    swarthy    Logan    bold,    held    farther    line, 
And    Ransom   joined    him,   touching    Sherman's    left, 
With    Blair    and    Tuttle    brave    and    true,   as    Steele 
Who    failed    not,   swinging    round    to    river    far 
North    and    above    the    city.     And    to    tell 
Who   bravest    were    of  these,   or    those    unnamed, 


Of  rank    the    less    to    private,   hard    the    task, 
And    task    refused. 

The    while    the    General    stood 

Waiting    upon    the    height,   the    deep    loud    stroke 
Of  signal    cannon    bore    the    word    to   charge. 
A    moment's    calm    had    fallen    as    the    time 
Exact    each    leader    kept,  where    cannon's    lip 
Hushed  its  hoarse  speech  of  wrath,  lest  friends  should 

feel 
With    foe,  its    anger. 

Silence!    strange    and    deep, 

As    when    the    sultry    breath    of  summer    sinks 
Nor    sways    the    fragile    branch,    nor    aspen    leaf, 
And    nature    faints,    before    the    sudden    burst 
Of  the    dread    hurricane.       And    as    the    swoon 
Of  nature    leaps    to    mad    delirium, 
And    earth    and    air    and    sky    a    swirling    roar 
Become,  filled    with    sharp    thunders,    making    yet 
One    greater    sound;    so    conflict    woke    its    wrath, 


And    foeman1s    thund'rous    cannon    roai 
Swelled,    and    the    rifle,    less,    yet    many    voiced, 
Helped    the    increasing    hurricane    where    strife 
Made    sport    of  life    and    tossed    it    to    and    fro. 
The  storm's  deep  voice  he  heard  who  scanM  the  field, 
And    now    amid    the    battle    smoke    descries 
Flag    on    the    left,    flag    on    the    right    afar, 
Flags    many,   on    that    line    that    belts    the    foe 
A    score    of  miles    or    near.     Lo!    right    and    left, 
Like    gleams    of    splendor,   lightnings    on    that    cloud 
Of  strife  j   the    banners    shine    above    the    slopes; 
And    now    the    exterior    parapet    they    crown, 
And    now    upon    the    guardian    outwork's    front 
Before    McClernand    wave    their    starry    folds, 
And    stop.     The    eye    for    broken   lines    of  foe 
Vainly    its    vision    strains,    and    for    "  the    blue  " 
Beyond    yon    winding    trench    doth    search    in    vairi. 
Tho'    near    on    left    and    right,   vet    stayed    the    lines 
On    ground    hard    won   nor   farther   press   their   way. 

153 


The    crack    of  rifle    still    breaks   oft,  and    now 
The   booming   shock    where    cannon  joins    anew 
The    fray,  with    rising    clouds    of  battle    smoke, 
All    this    he    marks    full    well,  but    all   too    well 
He    knows    the    first    strong    onset    met    and    broke. 
While    thus    afar    he    stands,  let    us    draw    near 
And    view    this    conflict    where    McClernand    waits. 
Here    first    from    close    and    hid    ravine    appear 
The    slender    column's    head    of  that    brigade 
Carr    orders,  Benton    at    its    front.       Some    fall, 
But    others    crowd    the    height,  and    only    seen 
By    glimpses,   now    their    flag  behold  !     behold  ! 
'Tis    up    the    slope,  now    hid,  now    seen,   now    floats 
On  what  a  strong  work    seems,  floats    free    and    fair 
Upon    the    parapet :     now    disappears 
Within,  with    its    brave    bearers,  seeming    few  ! 
Yet    Hope    the    number    swells    where    eye   doth   fail 
To    overleap    the    intervening    hills. 
And    now    'tis    turned    another    sight    to    meet. 

154 


Here  Lawler's  form  obese,  whose  brave  heart  matched 
Equal    his    courage    with    his    size,  did    lead 
Brigade    from    Carr's  command.     Farther  their  way> 
But    bravely   passed;    and    now    they    swept    along 
Climbing    the    last    long    slope    and    wavered    not, 
But    boldly    dared    the    crest,    and    boldly    leaped 
The    ditch,    and    proudly    planted    on    the    works 
Their    flag.       Now,    other    flags    flap    free    along, 
And    seem   to   shout    success,    and    yet    success 
In    chains.     While   lingered  thus  the  lines,  and  noise 
Of  battle    grew   apace,    this    message    sent 
McClernand,    reaching    Grant    as    to    the    right 
Where    Sherman    fought    he    turned    to    go. 

"  Engaged 

Am    I,    and    hotly,    with    the    foe.       On    me 
From    right    to    left    he    masses.       VigVous    blow 
Dealt    by    McPherson    now   would    favor    me." 
"  If  weak    your    line    advanced,   increase  its  strength 
Reserves    from    other    parts    where^r    they    be 

155 


Send."  And  with  orders  thus  returned,  Grant  passed 
To  Sherman's  front.  Here,  too,  th'  unequal  strife 
Had  raged,  and  here  so  brave  deeds  shone  as  well 
High  praise  deserved,  and  yet  deeds  wrought  in 

vain. 

His    path    led    by    the    graves   whose  grassy  mounds 
And    marble    monuments    the    hand    of  love 
Had    reared    to    Love    in    other    days    of  peace. 
Graves    were    his    path    the    first,    his    path    the    last, 
Graves,    where    the    hand    would    tenderly    conceal 
The    shattered,  bloody    forms,   unmarked,    unnamed, 
Perchance,    War's    monuments ! 

Straight    toward    the    works 

Prompt  with  the  hour,  his  columns  sprang  o'er  crown, 
Of  ridge    inferior,  and    down    its    slope, 
Beyond    the    deep    ravine    and    up    the    height 
Held    by    the    enemy,  amid    the    vines 
Tangled,  luxuriant,  o'er    prostrate    trunks, 
Trees    slashed    in    masses,  crossing   each,   and    o'er 


Stakes  driven,  till  reached  at  last  the  bastion's  flank, 
They  passed.     Battered   the   foeman's   fort  with    shot 
From  thirty   guns   poured   fast    and    hard,   else    ne'er 
Thus    close    had    come    the    column    led    by    men 
Whose    hand    the    plank    and    ladder   held    to    cross 
Deep  trench.     What  fearful  storm  they  yet  had  met 
From    cannon's    mouth,   or    rifle,  thousand    iold 
Increased  when  now  the}'  reached  the  bastion's  flank, 
Where    doubly    deep    and    safely    screened,   uprose 
The    unharmed    foe    and    poured    their    awful    tire 
Point-blank    against   those   breasts    so   few   and   bold, 
And    broken   was    the    charge    of   Ewing's    line  ! 
But    swift    th'    assault    renewed,  beset    the    left, 
That    seemed    less   strong,  and  that  brigade  that  lay 
Next   Ransom,  Blair  did   haste   to  send,  with   troops 
From    Ransom's    line.       But    deeper    than    before 
Yawned    three    ravines    more   tangled    still    than    all, 
More    closely    hedged    with    fallen    trees    and    bound 
With    Nature's    cordsr   that   like    a    toil-wrought  net,. 


Tvipped  the  swift  hurrying  foot.      A  few  through  all 
Did    struggle    on,    but  ere    the    lines    were    gained 
The    day   was    lost    tho'    still    the    carnage    raged. 
Midway    its    course    a    wounded    drummer    boy 
All    limpingly    and    slow    a    message    brought 
For   cartridges;    and    "calibre    fifty-four!" 
He    shouted,    turning    ere    he    left    the    hill 
To    tell    the    number    o'er,    fearing    mistake. 
To    Sherman    Grant    had    come,    and    only    come, 
When    this    new    message  from  McClernand  reached 
His    hand.       "  Of  two    forts    part    possession    ours, 
And    o'er    them    float    the    stars    and    stripes.        Hot 

still 

Our   fight;    a    vigorous    movement    should    be    made 
Along    the    line."       Doubting    if  more    he    knew 
Who    sent    it,  than    himself  whose    eye  had  scanned 
Broadly    the    fight,    the    even    charge    beheld, 
And    the    defeat,  where  flags    yet    floated    fair 
On   sloping   earthwork,  still    he   gave    command 


McArthurTs   troops    be   used,  and    hastened    where 

McPherson    led,  to    make    diversion    there; 

Bidding    the    while   the  troops  with  Sherman  charge, 

If  no    word    come    to   stay.     Nor    had    he    reached 

McPherson,  when    a    third    dispatch    declared: 

"  Have    gained    intrenchments    of  the    enemy 

At    sev'ral    points,  but    now    am    held    at    bay; 

Have    called    McArthur.     Would    it    not    be    best 

To    gather    here    his    whole    or    part    command? 

My    troops    are   all    engaged,  and    none    may  leave 

Their   front."     Such   words   unheeded  might   not   be, 

And   troops    McPherson    sent:   and    soon    the    charge 

Redoubled    all    along    the    line    should    rage. 

Once    more   the    message    came    to   tell    of  grasp 

Secure    upon    the    works:    of  purpose    fixed 

To    press    the    foe   with   what  of  help    should  come, 

And    force    the    line,  tho'   now    declared    "  in    range 

Of  rifle    trench,"    with   other    pris'ner's    tale 

Of  ''strong  works  in  the  rear."     And  now  once  more 


Did    Sherman   send    his    vet  Van    columns    on 
To    dare    death    often    dared    before,  and    soon 
McPherson    charged    and    battle    storm    awoke! 
And    word    first    came    from    Steele    afar,  of   tiasf 

O 

Planted    on    parapet,    yet    nothing    won 

Save  wounds  and  worse.     And  Tuttle  fared  his  like, 

And    here    McPherson's    bleeding    columns    reeled 

From  fight,  and  there  McClernand  failed  while  near 

His    wish,  and    keeping    parapet    and    trench 

Of  foe    mid    bursting    hand    grenades    down    hurled, 

The    only    troops    that    e'en    a    moment    took 

And    held,  aught    of  the    foeman's    lines.* 

Nor    these 

Long   held.      Captured   or   slain    were   those  who  got 
Within,  save    him    who    led    thro'    peril    large 
One    man,  a    near    score    of  the    enemy. 
Nor    reached    McArthur's    troops    assignment    new 
Till    day    and    night    had    gone,   nor    aught    fulfilled 

*See  Badeau,  Vol.   i,  page  320. 

160 


Of  what    McClernand    planned,  unwise    or    wise. 

And    Quimby    late    arrived,    relieving    Smith 

In    battle    line,  and    at    the    set    of  sun 

Engaged   and    met    as    others,   deadly    fire, 

Where  charged  in  feint  or  real   th'    emboldened  foe, 

While    swept    his    reinforcements    to    his    works, 

Assailed    and    brief  time    won    by-  federals. 

And    daylight    died    from    grief  to    see    what    wreck 

The  battle   wrought  with  those-  who  sought  the  town, 

While  shadowy  forms  thro'  shadows  backward  stole, 

Such    as    yet    strong    life    had,   while    darkly    lay 

Forms    motionless    or    writhing,   near    the    trench; 

And    through    the    night    the    moans .  of  agony 

Beat    discord    in    the    sleep    of  weary    men. 

A    host    three  thousand  strong,   in    wounds    or  death 

Lay    helpless    'mid    the    gathering,  awful    gloom. 

Nor    strange    indeed,   they    failed    the    day    to    win, 

When  'hosts    without    charged    equal    hosts    within. 

ii  161 


PART  III— BOOK  3. 


NCE     more     return     with     me     where 

soldiers    wait, 
This    time    upon    the    hillside's    sloping 

camp,  * 

Where   railroad   sends    its    level    line    along 

o 

From    Vicksburg    forth    to   Jackson    east    and   far. 
'  Tis   ev'n ing's   hour.       Thrice    seven   the    days    and 

more, 

Since  failed  the  charge,  nor  day  had  been  that   saw 
A   failing   purpose    or   a    fait 'ring   hand. 

.163 


Too  bold  the  front  with  dawn  that  first  looked  down 
On    sad    repulse,    to    kindle    hope    in    hearts 
Of  foe.      And    nearer    drew    the    nation's    host, 
And    stronger    seemed,    and    bolder    with    the    hours 
That    passed,    till    now    the    line    unbroken    formed 
A    prison    strange    for    hostile    hosts    within. 
Meantime    throughout    the    nation    fame    had    gone 
To    herald    triumph    won    in    many    a    fray, 
While  to  the  charge  repulsed  faint  praise  she  gave. 
But    in    the    days    thus    spent    came    friends  in  haste, 
To    see    the    citizen,    the    soldier    loved, 
And    safe,    a    knowledge    gain    of  War's    array. 
And   so '  at    this    day's   close,    with    curious    quest 
Safe    guided    into    camp,    came    one    in    search 
Of  Sergeant    Mars,    his    friend    of  former    years. 
Hearty    his    name,    who    made    his    way   where   sat 
In    war's    undress    his    friend    and    him    surprised. 
"'  Hurrah!    you  here?    or,    is    it   but    your    ghost?" 
u  Not  quite  a  ghost,"  he  laughed,   ubut  flesh  used  up. 

164 


That    sun    and    dust    were    fearful!     Glad    am   I 
I'm    here    at    last.     I    long    have    wished    to    see 
How    fare    our    boys    in    blue.     Such    gallant    men 
No    other    land    has    known,   God    bless    them    all! 
And    how    they    live    in  'war    time    'tis    the    dream 
Of  many    a    day    to    see,  and    so    I    came." 
On    flowed    the    dialogue    between    them    thus: 
"  Right    glad    are    we    to    see    your    face.     To    us 
God's    country    all    the    North    doth    seem,    and    now 
The    man    who    brings    the    nearer    sense    of  home, 
The    more    of  him    we    know,  most    welcome    is." 
"  And    how    are    all    the    boys,  the    bravest    boys 
Who    ever    formed    in    line  ?       God    bless    them    all! 
It    does    me    good    to    think    what    noble    men 
Have    fought    our    battles    for   us,  and    do    still." 
u  Don't    put    it    strong  till    you  have  seen  us  more!" 
"It    cannot    be    too    strong!     They're    heroes    all! 
And    now   I've    come   to    share    the   while    I    may 
Your    hardships    and    your    merry    times    withal, 

165 


For    such    our    revolutionary    sires 
Did    know,  and    such    their    worthy  sons  must  have. 
Spare    me   from    nothing    while    I   stay.     I    seek 
Experience    such   as    only    soldiers    know." 
"  We'll    gladly    introduce   you    all    around, 
And    send    you    home    a    vet'ran    swiftly    made. 
But    to    begin    the    drill    with    lightest    task, 
Come,  let's    to    bed    and    sleep." 

"  But    where 's    your   tent  ?" 

"  Lost  in  the  barge  that  somewhere   sunk  in    depths 
Of   yonder    river.      This    is    fine!     The    hill 
We've   spaded    down    you    see,  and    level    made, 
—A  couch   fit   for  a  king!     You  Ye  spared  the  slant 
We   had   the    first    few   nights." 

"  But    where's    the    bed  ?n 

"  Why,  man,  these  blankets, — don't  you  see  ?     Below 
The   poncho,  moisture    proof;  the    blanket,    wool 
Above.     Pile    in!" 

As    if  the   task    were    hard, 

166 


With    motion  'slow,  at    last    the    citizen 

Lay    prone    beside    the    soldier,  sleeping    sound, 

But    restless    seemed    and   turned    from    side    to  side. 

When  morning  came  the  sergeant  woke  and  missed 

His    friend!     u  Heigh-ho!    where    are    you,  citizen  ?" 

"Here!"   said   the   friend,  who  weary   looked  indeed, 

And    added:    "That    hard   bed!    I    could    not    stand 

Longer    its    misery!      I    have    not    slept 

A    wink.       And    cannonading    shook    the    hill, 

If  nothing    else    disturbed r    so    I    got    up. 

How    on   the    earth   you   lie   so   like   a    log, 

I    can    not    tell." 

"  But    then    you    came,    I    thought, 
To    share    our    hardships    all,    and    is    it    fair 
To    give    us    thus    the    slip?       We    gallant    men— 
"Quarter!    I    cry.       Don't    tell    a   'soul    beside 
What    words    I    used    last    night." 

"All    right;    and    now, 
T'is    doubtless    time    I    too    should    rise    and    make 

167 


My    morning    toilet  ;    but    a    good    hour's    sleep 
Were    worth    me    now    a    thousand    bugle    blasts 
Ol    Roderick    Dhu.     That    cannon's    thunder    loud 
T    heeded    not,  though    at    the    first    I    might. 
We    only    seek    to    rouse    the    foe    lest    he 
Sleep  long,  too  long  for  health.      The  sound  would  fail 
As    fails    it    with    our    men,  but    solid    shot 
And    lively    flying    shell    succeed.     At    least 
The    solid    shot    can    wake,  we    know    it    well. 
For    on    one    morn    our   neighbors,  yonder,    sent. 
Their    early    greeting    where   just    now    you    stand, 
Tho1    safe   till    then    we    had    esteemed    ourselves. 
Yet    sharply    through    yon    cut    the    battery 
Found    open    door    to    leave    its    compliments 
For   our    acceptance!11 

"Where    then     can    I    go?1' 

"  O !    calm    your   fears.     A    second    shot    but  whirled 
Its    strength,  when    yonder    battery    above 
— Clouse  keeps   it — knocked  the  reb   aloft,  and  since 

168 


No    trouble    has    it    \vrougl: t,  nor    will    again." 
"What's    that    'hat    sounds    so    like  a    sickly    cat, 
Mewing    with    music    long    drawn    out  ?" 

"A    ball, 

A    well    spent  ball,  and    see!    it    sL'kes,  and    near!" 
"Why,  in    the    ver}*    place    we    slept!     Your   bed, 
Come,  let   me    help    you    move    it.1'     "Not    at    all! 
Dig    up    the    minie,  keep    it;    let    the    bed 
Stay.     Ball    ne'er    went   just    there    before,  nor    will 
Again."     "To    me    your    reason    fails    in    weight; 
But    show    me,  somewhere,  water    for    my    face. 
I'm    sore    in    need    of   something    to    refresh." 
"  Hold    out    your    hands,  I'll    pour    the    water    on, 
Canteens    are    handy!"     "And    is    this    your    best? 
—But    listen!     Is    the    battle    on?    Hear,    hear! 
What    musketry !" 

"'Tis   but    the    morning's    work; 
Sharpshooters    busy,    on    each    side    engaged. 
Sit    down    and    talk    till    breakfast.       Nine    or    ten 

The    hour    our    men    we    sent    to    cook    our    meals 

169 


Yonder,    two    miles    away,    will    come.        No    smoke 
Nor    fire   near   by    must    tell    the    foe    our    place." 
"But    don't   you    have   a    lunch    before    that    hour?" 
"Lunch!    oh    the    fun!       Two    meals   a  day,  my  cit,, 
And    thankful,    too,    for    that,    or    rather,    if 
We    relish    it."       "I    would    not    stand    it    then!" 
"And  how  avoid  ?"    "  Why,  take  the  town.  Up  North 
We   thought  it  surely  could  be  done.     That  charge, 
Why    did    it    fail?       A    column    strong    it    seems, 
Just    keep    it    going,    ought    to    break    the    lines 
Of  any   foe   that    breathes."     "Nor    doubtful    that! 
But    if   't  were    yon    kept    going,    and    the    force 
Gave    out    before    it    had    been    going    long, 
And   there    were    none   to  swell  its  numbers?     How,, 
If  few    remained    to    reach    o'er   all    between, 
The    heavier    force    that    manned    the    works,    would 

strength 

Gigantic,    feed    your    heart    to    overcome  ?" 
"  Then    tell    me    how    and    why    the    onset    failed? ir 


170 


On  stretchers  some. — BOOK  IV,  Part  3. 

FART  IF!.— BOOK  4. 

HE   battle    scene   no  two  will  view  alike* 
The   private   wants    the   broader   scoper 

and    oft 

The   Gen'ral    lacks   the    full    experience 
The    private    soldier    knows.     Needed    are    both 
To    round    the    story    of  the    conflict    out, 
And    list    we  now    the    lesser    history, 
As    for    his    comrades    all,  in    words    that    mark 
The    outlines    of  such    task,  the    sergeant    speaks: 

"  Our    line    lay    waiting    yonder    to    our    right 

171 


Acr oso    that    iidge    and    m    the    hollow    deep, 
Whose    head    is    near    the   rebel    fort,  yet    soon 
Bends    to    and    keeps    its    course    along    the    works. 
Bright    was    the    morn    and    cloudless    all   the    sky, 
And    earth    seemed  softly  coy  with  blushing  flowrs, 
And    notes    of  birds    beat    time    for    winded    balls, 

O 

When    heard    we  there  the  stirring  words:     'At  ten 
Charge  on  the  works!'      Such  words,  or  like,  the  lines 
From    right    to    left    along    the    foeman's    front 
Al]  heard,  and  knew  that  all   th'  assault  would  make. 
Two    hours,   then   on!  to  death,  or  wounds  at    least, 
If  any    death    escaped.     But,  save    the    weight 
Of  waiting    thus,  a    read}'    spirit    held 
The    army.     Those    not    called    the  heights  to  climb 
Such    message    received    and    treasures,  such 
As    friends   left    desolate    might    need    or    prize. 
And    when    the    hour    had    come    we    stood    in  line, 
Numb'ring    'one,    two,    one,    two,'    until    we    knew 
Twelve    score    alone    remained    for   battle   fierce, 


Oi    what    you    saw    at    home    a    four-fold    force. 
And    then    the    Gen'ral    came,    and    these   his  words: 

'Shoulder    arms!     Right    shoulder   shift  arms!     Right   face; 

save     your     loads     to     shoot     the     flying  rebels,    and     make 

straight     for   the     court     house;      forward  to     battle     and     to 
victory.       March  !  /' 

By    flank    in    column,    marching    on    and    up 
That    ever   less'ning    vale    we    pressed,    till    now 
The    height    full    steep    was    gained.       Amid 
The    storm    of  bounding    shot    and    bursting    shell 
That    poured    unceasing    from    our    batteries, 
Slight    life    appeared    along    the    line,    where    erst 
Had    waited    foeman    brave.      But    when    the   head 
Of  column   crowned  the  height,  eight  men,  the  four 
Behind    the    four,    and    first    to    strike    the    top, 
Eight    men    a    moment    stood,    and  then  —  one  man! 
Up,    pressing    forward    still    the    column   pushed 
And    o'er   its    dead   and    by    its    wounded   swift. 
Scant   time   to    dally    when   the    lines    before 

173 


Swarmed    with    their  ranks  in  double  column  drawn 
Where    gave    their    winding    trench    protection    sure 
Protection!     Yet    sometimes    they    stood    half  seen 
Above   their   works;    no   child's    play,  theirs  or  ours. 
And    soon    did    haste    the    whole    brigade    along, 
And    gave    its    ev'ry    man    a    place    somewhere 
Upon    the    ridges    near    the    foeman's    trench. 
Somewhere,  amid    that    awful    storm    where    words 
Mock    meaning    if  they    seek  -to    tell    the    roar 
And   crash  and  shriek  of  strife.     Lo,  bursts  the  shell, 
And    hurls    its    shivered    hatred    swift    and    hard 
A    thousand    ways,  and    unseen    rifle    ball 
Kisses    its    curse    with    only    lesser    voice, 
And    fiercer   sent,  the   iron    bands    of   death 
Scatter    their    screaming    circles    far,  where    grape 
Crowds    flying    canister,  while    weighty    shot, 
Long,  rifled.,  twists    its    onward    course,  blue    veined 
And    visible    and    yet    unseen,  with    rush 
Whose    deathly,  train-like    sweep,  and    sound 

174 


Like    near    tornado,  drowns    the    voice    of  all, 
•Climax    of  wrath! 

Such    the    infernal    shower! 

Forts    front    and  flank  their  awful  carnage  wrought, 
And    never    held    the    char°nn£r    line    more    men 

o       o 

Than    stood    at    shelter    in    the    works    before. 
•Once    did    the    foeman    waver,  and    a    few 
Retreat,   but    rallied    were    'mid    curses    loud 
•Of    officers;     nor    time    had    our    advance, 
Far    scattered,    then    to    press    the    vantage   fair, 
Ere   from    the    left    their    heavy   lines    swept    on, 
—A    fresh    brigade    that   manned    anew    the    trench 
Already   filled    and    more,   to    meet    our   charge. 
No    time    had    we,   I    said,   the    vantage  great 
Ere    this    to    press,   but    it    were    truth    to    say 
Slight  chance  they  gave  who  held  o'er  us  command, 
But    hindered    as    we    see   it    now,   tho1   then 
None    saw    it    thus,   and   best    to    them    instead 
Did   seem    the    order    given    at    the    hour — 

175 


Crisis    of  triumph    or    of  loss. — "Lie    down!" 
Command    that    rang    along    the    line,    and    yet, 
While    man}"    heard,    not    heard    by    all,    and    thus 
Scattered    before    through    narrow,    rugged   path, 
More    scattered    now,    amid    that    storm    of  wrath 

-The    fearfulest    man    ever    dared    and    lived— 
The    most    were   kept    an    awful    moment    there 
And    checked    the    gathering    onward    impetus 
Whose    fierce    momentum    else    had    rolled  its  waves 
High    o'er   the   parapet.       Costly    the    rest! 
Unbroken    e'er,    by    many    a    brave,    bold    heart, 
Who    heard    not,    heeded    nevermore    command. 
Wounded,    here    fell    field    officers,    each    one 
We    claimed,    whose    regiment    the    van    did    lead. 
And    left    less    certain    still    th'    uncertain    plan. 
Perchance  'twas  hoped  delay  would  mass  the  troops 
Where    fire    so    hot    consumed    the    slender    van, 
Since    few    at    once    could    climb    the    narrow    slope. 
Forth    from    whose    shelter  came  the  whole  brigade' 

o 

176 


And    light    the    column's    head    to    break    the    line 
Of    foe.     But    greater    loss    had    we    than    gain. 
Yon    corporal    did   fall    but    halt    reclined 
On    soldiers    twain,    too   close   to    give    him    room 
Entire    upon    the    dusty   road    which    formed, 
With    slanting    side,   low    rampart   for    the    head; 
When   rifle   ball    pierced    both   below.     Above, 
He   safe    between   two    dead    men    lay.     And    here 
I  watched  the  column   crown  the    height  o'er    which 
We  had  but  come.     Five  men  advanced;    but  when 
The   tilth    the    level    pressed,   the    stroke   of   ball, 
With    dull    thud    sounding,   smote    his   side.     He   fell, 
And    stroke    on    stroke    upon    that    prostrate  form, 
As    post    receives    the    shot   of  rifleman, 
So    sounded,    muffled,   dead,   the   balls   on    him. 
Next    him;   that   man   you   see    there,  followed   close, 
And   from  his    hand  with   splint'ring  shock,   his    gun 
A    grape    shot    struck,    and    yet    right    on    he   came. 
Swift    passed   this    moment   that   we    lay   'mid  death. 

12  177 


Who    heard    the    order    thus    to    wait,    but    those 

Who    heard    it    not,   had    onward    pressed   their  way 

And    gained    upon    us.     Nor    must   you    the    thought 

Of    long  delay,    possess;    and    yet    a    score 

Of  feet    that    took    the    soldiers    near    the    foe 

In    time    like    this,    were   vast    in    breadth    of   life. 

'Forward!'    Up   sprang  the   line   and   swiftly  pressed 

Near   and   more   near   the   foe;  and    pushed   in   haste, 

Up   o'er    the    height    and    on    the    wagon    road 

Leading    to    Baldwin's    ferry    from    the    town, 

A    gun    from    a    field    battery    by    hand 

Was    hurried    on.     Almost    against    the    fort 

The    cannoneers    did    seem    to    plant    their    piece, 

That    belched    its   shotted    breath    into    the   face 

Of  foe.      Straight   thro'    embrasure    broke    the    shell, 

And    meeting    issuing    shell    from    hostile    gun. 

Joined    iron    conflict    at    the    muzzle    grim. 

Both    burst;    and    in    the    equal    strife    and    death, 

Destroyed    the    cannon    in    the    fort.       But    soon 

178. 


The   o'er   bold    cannon   was    withdrawn,   enwreathed 

With    smoke   of   battle    grander    than    the    wreath 

Of   laurel    green.      Meanwhile,   scant   time    in    truth, 

Was    ours  to    use   the   rifle;    and,    besides, 

We    sought    close    conflict    as  the    order  was," 

"  Thus    sorely  hampered,   fired   you   not   a  gun  ?" 

"  Some    here,    and   there,    yet    little    room    had    we, 

If  freed    from    such    restraint    the    order   fixed, 

Seeking   the    parapet,    to    stay    our    steps 

Even    for   that.       Well,    I    remember    how 

A    minie,    beating    with    a    spiteful    blow 

The    dusty    road    beside    my    foot,    had    crushed 

If  nearer    aimed,    my    small    but    useful    toe, 

And    brought    me    death,    may    be.       Achilles    like, 

Save   that    my   loss    had   proved  me  bold,  while  his, 

Discovery   new,    betrayed   the    swift    of  foot, 

His    back    presenting    to    the    Trojan    line. 

Meanwhile    the    battle   flag    and    he    who    bore 

With    spirit   brave   the    colors    on,    had    reached 

179 


The  ditch,  into  it  leaped  and  up  and  out 
Had  climbed,  and  on  the  flaming  parapet 
Stood  fast!" 

"And   there  beside  him  close  were  you!" 
"Not   I!      I    see    I    need    to   tell    with    care 
Our    progress    here    to    you    who    are    unused 
To   military    speech.       When    came    our   first 
Upon    the    hilltop    from    the    hollow's    head, 
Only    four    men,    with    fours    behind    the    four, 
Led    the    long,    narrow    column    to    the    right, 
Whose    purpose    was    a    broader    front    to    form 
Above    if  it    might    be.     And    when    these    four 
And    following    fours    first    reached    the    height,    I 

marched 

Among    the    last    in    regimental    line,   and    thus 
Behind   yet    others    reached   the   top.     When    came 
The   word   to   wait   a    space,    I    still    had    failed 
To    come    among   the    men   who    started    first 
And    going    on,  had   kept  the    distance    fair. 

180 


Besides,  my    cit,  another    order    sent 

The    regimental    left,  my    post    in    line, 

A    circle's    fourth    in    swinging    speed    along, 

To    point    beyond  where   stayed  the  van.     '  On  left.' 

And    '  into    line,'    the    words,   and    thus    't  was    ours 

To    pass    the    farther   distance    'neath    the    fire 

Of  death,  before    the    task    to    us    assigned 

Could    fairly   be    begun.     Hence    all    the    right 

Whose  path  lay  straight  from  that  dread  summit   on, 

Would    not    by    us    be    followed,  save    to    gain, 

As   they    had    gained    before    us,  height    of  death. 

Yet    some    I    passed,  for    vig'rous    vines'    embrace 

The    swaying    branches    oft    together    tied, 

And    laid    their    snares    along    the    steep    ravines. 

Besides    the    ground    above    and   toward    the    foe 

All    broken    into    gullies    deep    and    wide, 

Gave    no    fixed    line    a    permanence. 

And    as    I    speak    of  what    is    now    well    known 

Nor  known   in  full   when  onward  swept  the  charge, 

181 


So   may  I   say  the    task    assigned    us   there 
By  mortals    none    in    fairest    days  of  peace 
Had  been  accomplished.     While  we  sought  to  meet 
The    hard    demand,    the    men    who    hastened    on, 
E'en    while    we    lay    the    moment    where    we    fell, 
Had    near   the   foeman's   fort    approached,   and    now 
While  some  were  tangled  'midst  the  vines,  and  some 
Were    slain    or   wounded,   and    the    left    still    sought 
Their   place,   far    scattered    all — a    skirmish    line 
Whose  true  support  would   join  the   fight  no  more— 
The  flag  flapped  in  the  sudden  breeze.     '  Twas  seen 
Upon   the    right,  nor   near   us,    yet  my  heart 
Throbbed  stroke  triumphant  and  my  step  was  quick: 
If  ever    speed    I    had,    I    had   it    then, 
To   join    the  few    who    hastened    where    its    light 
Allured.     Before    me    yawned    a    sudden    chasm 
Barring    my    way,   and    o'er    it    I   must   go, 
Ere    up    the    slope    I    pressed    to    gain   the    men 
Already    climbing    steadily    its   breast. 

182 


I   plunged    and    rolled    its    slanting    side    along, 
And    climbed    to    where    the    ridge    began, 
Upon    whose    nearer    crown    the    strong    fort    stood." 
"Then    over    ditch  ,and    rampart    high    you    went!" 
"•  No    there    I    stopped!"   the    cool    and    calm    reply. 
"Good   heavens!       The  prize  so  near  and  yet  when 

came 

The    crisis    all    your    former    courage    failed! 
I'd    gone    and   taken    Vicksburg    when   so    near." 
u  Oh   that    yo.u    had    been    there!" 

"But   why   your   halt?" 

The    friend    unmindful    of  the    words    still    pressed 
What    most    his    mind    felt,  and  was  answered  thus: 
"  I    did    not    see    a    soldier    when   I    came 
Thus  near  the  ditch.     The  flag  was  gone.     I   heard 
Boasts    in    the    rebel    line    of   high    success. 
To   make   the    story  short    with    knowledge    now 
Possessed,  the   standard    bearer   placed   the   flag — 
That    emblem    of  a    nation's    pride    and   pow'r — 

183 


Upon    the    fort,  his    comrade    wounded    sore 
And    soon    to    die    who    held    the    mating    flag, 
And    thus    alone    he    led,  but    he    and    they 
Who    with    him    were,  or  followed  close,  their  place 
A    moment    held    and    sharp    the    conflict    waged, 
But    soon    overmatched  in   numbers,   and  not   helped 
With    added    force    from    Fed'ral    lines,  with    more 
Than    one    black    muzzle    at    his    breast,  the    man 
Who  bore  the  flag  from  out  the  strong  works  went 
Pris'ner,  not    captor.      There!    the    story's    told." 
"  But    where    in    name    of  loyalty    were    those — 
The    soldiers    who    should    keep    the    flag    or    die  ?" 
"  And    die   they    did,  and    many    a    body    lay 
Along    that    slope    and    by    the    ditch    above. 
And   dead    the}*   were    when    I    had    got    beyond 
My    gully    deep    to    see.     And    dead    had    been 
This    soldier    whom    you    scorn,   if  he    had    tried 
Alone    to    storm    the    place." 

"  And    you    did    naught  !" 

184 


UO    yes!    I    got   down    where   I    felt    more    safe." 
u  And    so    you    might    as    well    have    stayed    away!" 
"  Well,  yes.     I    rather    think    that    way    myself." 
"  What  good,  then,  did  you  do  ?     Not  hurt  yourself 
Nor    hurting    foe."     "  Not    hurt    myself,   'tis    true. 
But    then    you    could    have    seen    a    hundred    men 
Or    near,  of  regiment    you    knew    at    home, 
Hurt,  and    to    die,  some    soon,    from    awful    wounds; 
And    on    the    field    dead,   dead    a    score    from    those 
Who    scant    twelve    score    had    formed    their    line    to 

charge. 

Like    ruin    fell    upon    the    whole    brigade. 
What    damage    to    the    foe  ?     Something    of  ill, 
But    truly    less    by    far    than    he    wrought    us. 
We    did    some    work    in    picking    off  the    heads 
That    showed    their    front   as    all    along    the    hills 
We   waited    night    of  that    sad   day    in   May. 
If  less    had    fallen    at    the    start,    more    strength 
Were    ours    to    hurl    against    the    foe." 

185 


"You    thought 

The   short    delay    did    add    to    ruin    dire, 
By   scattering    more   your   scattered    line;    but    why 
Could    not    those    leading    all    the    van    hear    too 
The    order?"       "I    can    say    but    this:    the    ground 
So    broken    broke    the    true    alignment    too, 
And    those    before    too    far    had    got    to    heed 
The    cry    that    vied    but    faintly    with    the    notes 
Of  cannons'    thunder.       And    indeed,    few    saw 
The    nation's    banner    as    it    led    the    way, 
And    fewer   still    had    seen    it    if  the    feet 
Of  him    who    bore    it    had    not    tripped    in    grasp 
Of  stakes,  cheval-de-frise,  and    thus    delayed 
His    onward    course.     Nor    many    knew  of    all 
Amid   the    awful    fire,  of  what    I've   told; 
Nor    order    heard    the)*  all,  to    wait,  nor    all 
Did    see    the    few    fly    backward    from  the  trench, 
Nor   all    beheld    the    reinforcement  large 
Of   foe.     For    in    succession    scarce    did    come 

1 86 


Events    so    dread,   but    seemed    instead    to    be 
At    moment    same.     Nor    long    the    white-hot    flame 
Of   battle    burned;  five  'minutes    brought    the    strife 
To    its    full    strength.     And    this    I    know  ;  we    first 
From    all    our    front    received   the    hardest    blows." 
"  But    did    not    all    as    one    the    charge    attempt  ?" 
"  Aye,  or    we    tried    to,  but    sometimes    the    place 
From    which    the    column    started,  nearer    was 
And    sooner   came    to    danger.     On   our    left 
As    lay    the    few    with    me    upon    the    slope, 
Beneath    the    hottest    sun    that    ever    scorched, 
When    lost    with  us   success,    I    saw    the    line 
Of  blue    advance,  and    gallantly    the    fort 
Which  yonder  stands,  scale  swift  and  soon.   Their  flag 
Upon    the    parapet,  as    ours    had    done, 
Waved   in    its    beauty.     Now   I    saw   the   blue 
Upon   the    ramparts   ranged,  and    now    within 
Leap    down.     And  one  and  two  and  three,  and  more 
Gray-coated    soldiers   haste   to   climb 

187 


Their    fort,  and    speed  them  down    the    hill    to    seek 
Our    lines.     What    means    it  ?     Victory  we  think. 
And    livelier    our    rifles    keep    the    foemen    close 
Before    us.     Look    again !     Now    waves    a    sword 
Flashing    its    sunflame    bright,  asking    for    aid 
Which  comes  not.     Look  again!     The  flag  is  gone. 
And    now    as    slow    the    sun    sinks    westerino- 

o> 

A    clear    shout    rings    beyond    the    hills    afar, 
And   nearer    comes,  and    now   the    foeman's    flag 
Floats    once    again    upon    that    fort !     I    hear 
Talk,  eager    and    excited,  and    can    tell    the    words 
As   this    one   boasts    of  fatal  shots,  and    that 
How    first    he    gained    again    the    forts.     An    act 
Brave    and    rewarded    fitly    here    was    wrought. 
A    sergeant,  Griffith,  sole    survivor    there 
Of    all    wrho    scaled    the    height    and    got    within, 
For   slain    the    others,  slain    the    foe    as   well, 
Since    open    was    the    first    redoubt    to    works 
Behind,  and   swept   by    cannon    shot    so    none 

iSS 


Could    live;    this    man    uprose    and  bade  them  come 
Who    still    remained    alive,  and    follow    him 
To    safety,  pris'ners    though    their    lot.      They  went, 
And    these    I    saw    as    down    the    hither    slope 
They  ran.     But    failed    we    all    along   the    line, 
Nor    else    could    do    with    force    we    had    at    hand, 
Restrained    from    use    of   rifle,  and    the    lips 
Hushed  from  the  quick'ning  cheer,  and  scattered  wide, 
And    where    the    guiding    voice    not    all    could    hear, 
E'en    if   that    voice    the   just    command    had    giv'n. 
In    truth    the    reasons    seem    to    multiply, 
But    knowing    naught    of  all    that    tangled    way — 
The    fruitful    source    of  every   error   made— 
And    meeting    plucky    soldiers    bold    to    fight, 
With  force  no  more  than  then  the  dread  charge  made, 
—Such    was  the  task, — no    living    men    could    storm 
Vicksburg.     But    now    'tis    different.     If  need 
To   charge   again,  to   enter   it    were    ours; 
Yet    relish    for    the    deed    is    not    o'er  great. 

189 


Three  days  and  nights  passed  by,  and  when  the  truce 
Stayed    strife,   and    buried    we    our    slain,   we    used 
Our    eyes    the    while    and    saw    how    lay    the    land, 
And    since   that    hour   advance    hath    slowly    been.'1 
"A    truce!    for   what  ?" 

"  To    care    for    wounded    men, 
And    bury    lovingly    our    noble    dead. 
Three    days   they    lay    unreached    between  our  lines, 
And    through    the    nights    their     low     moans     struck 

our    ears, 

But    Pemberton    permitted    not    our    help 
Till    fear    of  pestilence    his    nature    moved. 
And    then    a    few    brief  hours    we    spent    in    work 
The    like    of  which    I    wish    not    e'er    again    to    do. 
I    saw    the    hospital    the    day    which    came 
After    the    charge;    and    wounds    of  sick'ning    shape, 
And    heaped    up    hands    and    arms    and    legs    along 
The  space  where  surgeon's  blade  had  carved  its  way, 
And    on   the   ear   the   groans    of  pain   pierced    men, 

190 


Ill-faring  'mid    the    lack    of   comforts    there. 

All    this    was    hard    to    see    and    bear,    but    still 

Not  like  the  sights    and  sounds  where  storm  of  strife 

Had    left    its    wrecks    uncared    for    days    and    nights. 

Some    died    an    hour    before    we    came,    as    some 

Sore    wounded    but    alive   did    tell    us.       One, 

An   officer    whose    voice    for    two    nights    wailed 

Its    feeble    cry    heard    by    his    men,    tho'    help 

Could    reach    him    not,    so    near    the    lines    he    lay 

Of   enemy,   who    feared    our    line    as    well, 

Died    but    a    moment    ere    we    reached    the    spot. 

But    how    we    hid    their    mangled    forms    in    earth 

Ask  not!"     ;'But  when  did  you  get   out  that   day?17 

"To    answer    full,   the    regimental    line 

What    few    a    captain's    voice    could    reach  to  whom 

Had   fallen   the    command,  late    hour    relieved, 

Beneath   the    shelter   of   the    slope   returned  ; 

And    to    the    roll-call    one    by   one    replied 

The    seventy -five   that    stood    in    line.       And    while 

191 


The    voices    few    did    answer,    straight    along 

Forth    from    their    lines    the    rebels    came    to    sweep 

The    remnants    of   a    beaten    foe    away. 

But    as  they  marched  with  flank  exposed,  these   few 

Upon    their    left    advanced    with    rapid    fire, 

And    sent    them    whirling    back    into    their    works. 

Thence    passed    they  to  their  former    place.      But   I, 

With    others,    drifted    by    the    battle    tide 

Along   the    ridges    left,   heard    no    command, 

But    waiting    night,    did    help    a    wounded    man 

Back  o'er  the    slopes  as  straight    as  we  could   come. 

I    heard    proposal    in    the    fort    to    search    our    ditch 

For    Yankee    prisoners,    but    they    came    not 

To    capture    us — no    easy    task    I    ween— 

For    even    men    not    over    brave    may    grow 

Desp'rate,    and    such    were    we.      And    thus    amid 

The    rain    of   scattering    balls    aimed    all    amiss, 

We    passed    in    safety    to    our    lines    again." 


192 


"O  YES  I     O  YES!    HERE'S   YOUR    SOWBELLY    AND 

CORN     BREAD  !" 

Rang   out    a    clarion    voice    as    if  it    feared 
No   foe;    and   startled,    spoke    the    citizen: 
"  What    rough,   loud    speech    is   that  ?" 

"  Be    not    o'ercome, 

'  Tis    but    a    call    to   breakfast    brought    at    last, 
And    follow    me    if   you   would   get    your    share!" 
"  You    mean    to    eat    this    greasy,    glistening   meat, 
And    cold    at    that,  on    this    hot    day  ?" 

"Just    so! 

And    glad   to    get    it,  too.     Mule    meat    have    they, 
And    little    of  it,  inside    yonder    works." 

13  193 


PART  III— BOOK  5. 


^5B|?,    V'NING     had     come     upon     the     camp 

half  hid 
In    earth,    where     hollowed    slope    and 

mimic    cave 

Held  soldiers    safe   what    time    there    was    for   sleep. 
But    came    an   orderly    anon    and    gave 
A    message    brief,   and    taking    each    his    gun, 
They  formed    short    line  beneath   the   shelt'ring  hill; 
But    first   the   sergeant    turned    and  spoke  his  friend: 
"Detailed    am    I    for   picket    guard, — reserve. 

195 


My    Hearty,  will   you    go   or    will    you    rest 
Peacefully,  sweetly,   on    our    last    night's    couch  ?" 
Doleful   was    his    reply,  and    slowly    made: 
"  Go  ?    worse    I    cannot    be,  and   still    desire 
To    learn    of   soldier    life,   albeit    rough." 
But    lo!    there    comes   a    call    for    Sergeant    Mars 
To    post    the    pickets    in    the    near    advance. 
Oft    had    he    led    the    line,  and    now    best    knew 
The    place    of  each.     Nor    was  it    now    his    task, 
Task    not    o'er    fondly    loved,  but    task    of  those 
Who    called    for    guide    to    lead    in    paths    unknown. 
But    willing    in    such    need    to    grant    his    aid,  , 

The    sergeant    thither    turned    his    ready    steps. 
With    him    we    go    to    learn    how    pickets    near 
Works    hostile    stand.       Across    the    upthrown    bank 
Of  rifle    trench    the    sergeant    leads    the   way, 
And   as    they    into    darkness    pass,   speaks    thus: 
"With    care!     When    shines    the   moon    your   forms 
Are    targets    for    a    ball    along    this    slope. 

196 


Now    in    this    shadow    halt    and    forward   send 
Yon    picket    where   this   little    brook,    long    dry 
Doth  bend  toward  us  its  course.     No  word  speak  here, 
Nor    challenge    give    if  one    should    cross    the  height 
Above.       The    only  sound    your    rifle's    voice! 
Learn    now    the    panther's    stealthy    tread,    nor  show 
The  front    of   face    an    inch.       The    gray   coat    lies 
In    guard    five    paces    hence.       Your    picket    place 
Hugging    the    very    earth,   and    bid    him    send 
Quick    as    his    thought    the    minie,    if   he    sees 
The    merest    stir    beneath    that    clump    of   trees. 
Once   more!     Leave   here   reserves  for  all  the  posts, 
The)7  're    safe    from    rifle    ball    and    cannon    shot: 
Only  no    fire,    nor    noise    to    rouse    the   foe. 
Bring    hither    one    more    guard    and    send    him    on 
Alone    and    carefully.       That    cotton    bale! 
A    straight    line    let    him    keep    behind    it!      Twice 
Or  thrice    the    man    who    swerved    a    hair    aside, 
Has    met    the    hissing    ball    from   yonder    fort. 


Held    by    the    wakeful    Texan    foe.       When    there 
Bid    him    be    watchful,    yet    show    not    a    hand 
Or    foot    or    lock    of  hair    to    ricjht    or    left. 

O 

The    '  cotton    bale '    is    post    well    known    to    those 

Who    hold    the    rirle    line    beyond.       Once    there, 

A    good    outlook    is    ours    for    movement    large, 

Should    there   be  such.      To  watch  and  swift  report, 

His    duty    is.       And    yonder    one    guard    more 

Where    lies    th'    uprooted    tree    and    close    behind 

The   breastwork    of  its    matted    base.       Relieve 

Each    second    hour.       If  action    to    resist 

Arise,    send    messenger   with    speed   away  where  lies 

Upon    its    arms    the    heavier    reserve." 

Leaving    this    line    he    hastened    to    return, 

And    reached    the    strong    reserve    in    time    to    hear 

The    soldier    poet    to    the    others    speak. 

"Why  sleep  to  night?     We  may  be  called  to   work 

As    hot    as    we    can    stand.      'Tis  safe  upon  this  side 

The  hill  that  mates  the  one   yon   fort  1s   on.     Come 

198 


A    story    each    to    while    the    hours    away!" 
"With    yours    begin,1'    a    comrade    cries,  and    he, 
"To    shrink    from    what    I    have    of  others    asked 
Were    poor    example.       Listen    while    I    tell 
Experience    true    'mid    the    Arkansas    hills." 

PICKET    IN    ARKANSAS. 


Arkansas!    uncomely,  with    hills    thicket    grown, 
With    winding    and    clear    running    river, 

Arkansas,  the    dread    of    the    sentry    alone, 
Where    grasses    and    leaves  are    aquiver, 

'Tis    night   in   thy  borders!    The  stars  from   the  sky 
Look    down    where    the    camp    lies   a    sleeping, 

And    dimly    reveal    the    dark    gunboat    below 
'Neath    which    the    wild    waters    are   sweeping. 

'Tis    midnight!     and    pickets    along    the    outposts 

Their  duty   in    silence    are    doing; 
For    foemen   alert    and    with    eyesight   undimmed 

Each    object    before    them    are    viewing. 

199 


But    list   to    the    sound    from    the    river    afar, 

Of    bells    where    the    gunboat    is    lying, 
Eight    strokes!     They    are    music    to    guards    as    they   hear 

The    notes    in    the    distance    now    dving. 

There's  a.  post  on   the  hill   where   the   thicket   is  dense, 

And    grasses   grow    tall    and    together, 
Where   leaflets    are    brown    and    are    falling    away 

From    touch    of  the    frost-breathing    weather. 

The    sentinel    waits    in    a    shadow    dark    hid, 

The    corp'ral    a    moment    is    bending 
Above    the    dim    fire    as    it    flashes    and    falls, 

A    fitful,    faint   light    o'er    him    sending. 

Hark!    was    it   leaf  as   it    fell    from    its   bough, 

That    rustle    all    meaningless    making? 
Or    limb    broken    loose    from    its    last   dying    grasp, 

Or    whisper    of  night    winds    awaking? 

The    Corp'ral    starts    up,  and    the    guard    in    the    gloom 
Keeps    close    that    no   foeman    mav    spy    him, 

Sharp    ringing,  the    voice    of  a    rifle    speaks    out, 
A    bullet    speeds    hissing   just   by    him. 


*  By   heavens !     'twas   close ;    he   has   touched   me  tho'  slight," 

The   Corp'ral    cried    out    to  the   picket. 
"Quick,  fire!       The    smoke!     see    it    rises   just    there!" 

Their    bullets    speed    fast    toward    the    thicket. 

The    echo    at    last    in    the    woodland    grew    still, 

The    starlight    no   foe    was    revealing. 
The    pickets    again    in    their    quiet   stood    guard, 

And    o'er    all    the    old    silence    came    stealing. 

A    little    beyond    where    the    sentinel    stood 

A    hollow    led    up    toward    the    picket, 
Here    found    we    in    time,  hidden    half  'mid  the  leaves, 
A    mouldering    form    in    the    thicket. 

Beside    it    a    rifle    lay,  rusty    and    old, 

Unclasped    by    the    hand    now    decaying, 
And    startled,  upflew    from    their    feast    on    the    dead, 

The    birds    that    upon    it    were    preying. 

And    knew    we    no    more    of  the    nameless,  the    dead, 

Than    that   he    with    a    cowardly    daring 
Crept    nigh    to    our    picket    with    death    in    his    heart, 

'Twas    all!    nor   for   more   were   we   carinsr." 


"Aye!    served   him   right,"   said   Sergeant   Mars,    his. 

speech 

Delaying    not.      "  The    skulking   foe    not    oft 
So    soon    receives    his   just    deserts.       But    who 
Would    care    to    try    the    soldier's    life,    if   he 
Must    meet    his    death    ingloriously,   at    hands 
Of    foe    he   cannot    see  ?      Not    I,   for    one. 
War    ought    to    be    an    open    test    of   strength, 
And    if   it    tend    to   cruelty    as    say 
Those    trying    not    its    front,    should    thus    be    met 
And    stemmed   the   downward   curent.     Face   to   lace 
And    waged    to    victory    or    honored    death, 
War    must    command    each    sterling    soul's    esteem 
And    nowise    weaken    manhood.       Nay,    upbuild 
A    mighty    courage,    stiffen    the    backbone, 
And    give    the    world    a    race    worth    cherishing, 
For    that    grand    virtues    into    giants    grow 
Where    war's    strong    hand    the    true    disciple    leads ! 
Endurance!    breasting    long   the    storm,  to   gain 


By  bold    aggressive    stroke,    the    weighty    prize. 
Endurance,    when    to    gain    no    hope    shines   lair, 
Yet    stands    the    soul   as    bedded    mountain    wallT 
Receiving    all    the    shock    of   surging    strife  ; 
Receiving    yet    above    it    standing    strong, 
A    great,   mute,   matchless    conqueror  ! 
Patience!  to    rule    the    spirit    else    disturbed. 
And,    germ    of   potency,   to    grow    again, 
The    outer    shell    of  hard    endurance,    broke 
Perchance    beneath    some    awful    blow    adverse. 
Daring!    that    mocks    at    danger    nigh    and    dreadr 
And    lifts    the    laggard    body    on    the    wings 
Of  brave,   exultant    spirit,  till  it    shares 
Already    life    beyond    its    grosser    sphere, 
And    with    its    feebler    hand    plucks    noblest    fruit 
Of  deed    unselfish,  till    some    times    it    wins 
The   well    earned  crown    of   immortality, 
—A  name  that  dies  not  from  the  thoughts  of  men!"" 
To   him    another   thus    an    answer    made: 

203 


"  Yes,  yes,  War's    tendency    in    open    field 
To    make    the    man    a    stronger    man,   received 
Large   proof  on   yesterday,  the    test    myself. 
Sharpshooters    we,  and    held    the    rifle    pits, 
Our    duty — keeping    down    the    hostile    heads 
That    ventured    to    uplift    and    note    our    acts. 
And    well    we    did    it,  for    we    first    began 
And    kept    the    easy    'vantage    through    the    day. 
But    it    was    dull    enough    at    noon.     No    sign 
Of  hat    or    head    or    hand.      No    flag    to    win 
An    easy    glory    by    our    ready    shot. 
We    tired    of   firing    at    the    forts    of  clay, 
With    nothing    gained    beyond    a    breath    of  dust 
As    grazed    the    minie    sharp    the    rampart's    crown: 
Of  shelling    with    our    rifles    raised,  the    dome 
Of  yonder    court    house,  full    two    miles    away. 
I    set    my    musket    down    and    turned    to    scan 
With  borrowed  field-glass  what  our  front  misfht  show. 

O  C5 

Nor    long   had    I    thus    gazed    till    on    the    left 

204 


Sprang    up    a    man    and    walked    the    top    along 
A    score    of   feet,   and    where    yon   fort    begins, 
Leaped  down!     I  saw  his  broad-brimmed  hat  and  coat 
Of  jeans,  with  threads  of  brown  that  flashed  with  brass, 
As    e'en    the    buttons    counted,    met    my    eye. 
My    musket    quick    I    grasped,    but    ah,    too    late! 
To    charge    the   piece    again   I    had    forgot, 
And    ere    I    this    could    do,    and    while    the    cap 
Trembled    upon    the    tube,    he    whom    I    willed, 
With    whatsoever    skill    I    had,    to    shoot, 
Was    gone.       A    moment    more    and    I    had    slain, 
Or    vainly    tried    to    slay,    a    man    like    you  ! 
But    what    emotion    then    o'erwhelmed    my   soul  ? 
A    bitter    disappointment,    keen    regret, 
That    I    had    failed    to    charge    my    gun    and    lost 
The    chance    so    rare.     And    verily    I    never   thought 
Till    now,  how   I   have  proved  your  case,  and  shown 
How    healthy,    open    war    ennobles    men, 
—The    ordinary    man — with   yet    some   brains 

205 


Above   a    heart,    with    some    humanity.'1 

Reply  came  prompt  from  Mars:    "But  you  are  wrong, 

A    habit    born    of  spirit    true,  you    set 

Apart    from    motive    prompting    at    the    first, 

And    cannot    change    my    argument."       And    here 

Upspake    the   soldier,    seen    and    heard    before, 

He    of  the    wintYing    brow,    not    loving    war: 

"  And    what    needs    he    of  proof  bevond    this    fact, 

That    war    occasion    gives    for    habits'    growth, 

So    that  forsooth    we    kill    our    man    and    think 

Of   him    as    think    we    of   the    game    we    slay." 

Nor    was    the    converse    ended   when    with    haste 

The    wakeful    sergeant    to    his    comrades    said: 

"  A    rifle    shot   in    front!      Your    guns!       In    place 

At    once  !— -'Tis    picket    from    the    cotton    bale 

That's    come,   driven   in  or  sent  from   front   reserve.'1 

And    he    with    much    ado    excited    cried: 

"My    arm  !  my  arm  !   'tis   broken,   quick   your  help!" 

Brief  search  they  made,  and  then  the  sergeant  smiled; 

206 


41  There's  break  of  skin — that's    all — ,"  but    he  deep 

stirred, 

"And    more,  I'm  sure  there's  more.     It  stung  as  sharp 
As    thrust    of  bay 'net   through  and   through.      I  tried 
To    see    somewhere    some    head    at    which    to    aim 
And    got    my    elbow   just    outside    the    edge 
Of    that    old    bale    before    me,    and    the    pain 
Danced    agony    ere    I    had    heard    the    shot." 
"I'll    tell    you    why.       It    struck    your    crazy    bone." 
"  That's    so,    I    guess.       Laugh    if  you  will,   but  you 
Would    laugh    less    yonder    on   the    picket    post. 
Go    try    it    for    awhile.       I'll    not    go    back!" 
•"  That,    seems    a   jolly    thing    to    start    a    laugh! 
He    might    have    had    the    bullet    in    his    heart." 
Thus    spoke    the    elder    soldier    wisely    grave, 
As    disappeared    the    picket    from    their    sight; 
While    thus    the    stream    of  merriment    ran    on: 
'"  And   yet    it    was    a  joke    and    ended    well. 
"Turn   naught    to   darker   gloom   than   there    is  need. 

207 


Whose  story  next?       "  '  Tis  yours,1'  say  all,  and   he, 

u  A   joke    that    wears    no    sober    side    I'll    tell 

In    speech    as    plain    as    doth    become    plain    man. 

1 T  was    when    I    first    had    'listed    and    was    sent 

On    picket    in    Missouri.       Soon    we    learned 

Ourselves    to    keep    provided    with    fresh    meat. 

One    day    there    came    a    rebel    by    who    gave 

No    countersign    when    challenged,    save    to    grunt 

A    grunt    of  deep    contempt    for    union    arms. 

We    shot    him,    skinned    him,  hung    him   up  and  saw 

In    store    a    lordly    feast    upon    his    flesh. 

But    lo!    an    officer    came    riding    by; 

And    giving    password,    caught    a    glimpse    of  what 

So    bravely    we    had  done.     "  Who  killed  that  hog? 

Whose   meat    is    that  ?"  he    asked    in   question  stern. 

Not   one    replied.     Again  he  asked:  u  Do  you  claim 

that  ?" 

But    silence    golden    was,  we    thought,  nor    used. 
Our    eloquence   to    tell    of  deed    so    bold. 

208 


"Well!"    said    he   sharply,    "if  none    own  the  meat, 

'Tis    pity    it    should    spoil;    I'll    take    it    home." 

His    actions    to    his    words    were    true    and    quick, 

The    man    and    hog,  both    hogs    in    fact,  were    gone. 

He    had    no    right,  but    had    seen    service    more." 

Our    laugh    was    interrupted    by    the    cry, 

"Look!  look!  the  shells  from  Porter's  mortar  boats! 

Another    and    another.     You    can    hear 

The    loud    report   just    when    the    little    light, 

Sole    signal    of  that    iron   globe    of  death, 

Turns    earthward    from    the  sky  it  seemed  to  storm. 

That    one    exploded!     There's    another   still! 

How    swift    it    rushes    down    upon    its    prey, 

The    city    sleeping    calm    and   peacefully." 

"Not    sleeping    much,  I    say;    more    safe   are    we," 

Replies    another,  watching    thus    the    shells. 

"  That  one  did  not  explode!"     "  That  did!  and  that!" 

And    so    the    shells    and    so    the    comments    flashed, 

'Till    he    that    first    had   spoken,   spoke   again. 

14  209 


"Good   hap,  my   comrades,  this.     On  that  side  they, 
To    hurl    these    fiery    demons    down,  and    we 
On    this,  to    keep    the    foe    within    the    town. 
Friends    there    and   here   join    hands    invisible, 
And    form    a    charmed    circle    none    can    break. 
Ours,  ours    shall    be    this    river    queen." 

And    still 

Words    follow    till    at    last    the    poet's    voice: 
UA    sight    worth    seeing,    yonder    changeful    stars! 
Above    the    shining    spires    first    flames    the    light, 
And    higher    still    the    twinkling    splendor    beams 
Akin    to    stars    that    glow    their    love    to    earth 
From    fields    afar    in    heav'n.     Awhile,    it    holds 
Its    home    amid    the    stars    a    kindred    fire, 
— A    moment    brief, — then  trembles    to    its    fall, 
And    losing   love    and    sweetness    from    its    heart, 
As    turns    it    from    the    heaven's    lair    face    away, 
It    glares   a    fury    beam'    toward    earth,  and    speeds 
With    growing    terrors    terrible    to    bear, 


Swift    to    its    end,   'mid    rushing    thunder    loud, 
And    bursts    its    heart    of  wrath    as    Samson    died, 
Doing    its    work    of  might    and    perishing." 
"  Demon    of  wrath,  no    doubt,  they  think   it  there," 
One    answered;"    but    to    us    in    very    truth 
Angel    of  righteous    vengeance    none    too    soon 
Sent    forth    to    do    God's    will!11     And    as    he    spoke, 
All    clear    and    sweet    the    town    clock    of  the    foe 
Ten    strokes    rang    out,   and    some    began    to    sleep, 
While    one   kept    guard    to    waken    them    at    need. 


PART  III.— BOOK  6. 

HOME!   and   love,  its  flower!  that  grew 

of  old, 
And    first     in     Paradise,    of   all    most 

fair! 

O    home  !     O    love !     the    only    blossom    bright 
Transplanted    from    that    Paradise    to    earth 
That    semblance    bears    of  primal    beauty    still; 
Flow'r    of  perpetual    bloom    that    ev'rywhere 
Breathes    perfume    of   the    true   Atlantis    lost, 
Thou    hast    a    place    e'en    here    midst    war's    alarms! 
Alas!    what  hath  war  wrought?     Yon    cottage  neat, 


Where    love   embowered    lingered    long,   is    closed; 
And    like    a    brood   affrighted    from    the    nest, 
Parent    and    child    have    fled    with    hasty    steps 
And    sought    the    refuge    of   the    shelt'ring    hills. 
Lo,  here    cut    deep    an    entrance    leads    within, 
And    caves    here    in    the    hillsides    dark    protect 
The    many    from    the    falling    bomb    and    ball. 
Here   at    the    hour    when    shadows    gather    fast 
Along    the    slopes,  within    the    grotto's    mouth 
Rests    the    wan    mother    with    her    children    twain. 
Sleeps   one, — the   babe, — held    tenderly,   and    one 
The    sweet    Mabelle,  and    wise    beyond    her    years, 
Scarce    four,    leans    on   the    mother's    knee    and    asks 
Strange    questions    as    is    oft    her    wont,    while    she, 
The   mother,    seeks    to    give   the    wise   reply. 
"Mamma!" 

"  What    is    it    that    my    child    would    ask?" 
"Will    papa    come    to    night?" 

u  No,    darling,    no. 

2*4 


He    watches    on    the    picket    post,    to    come, 
I    always    fear,    no    more.       O    when    will    war 
So    pitiless    be    ended!" 

"What    is   war?" 

u  Cruelty,    child,    so    hurting    hearts    that    lie 
Beneath    its    touch    they    can    be    glad    no    more." 
"  Was  war  what  made  you  cry  when  Robbie  died?1' 
41  Yes,    that;    for    little    Robbie's    papa    fell 
When    tierce    the    battle    raged    on    Shiloh's    field. 
You    cannot    understand,    my    darling    one, 
And    would    the    need    should    never    be    to    know 
More    than    thy    young  heart   knows.     But  when  we 

heard, 
Then    Robbie's    mamma    sickened    out    of  orief, 

O 

And    went    to    God,    and    left    your    cousin    here 
For   you    to    love    a    little    while   before 
He   too    was    taken    home,    a    babe   to    heaven." 
u  Are    they    all    safe    from    war?" 

"Yes,    safe,    sweet:    one. 

215 


They    loved    to    think   of  heaven    while    they    lived, 
They    loved    God's    well    beloved    Son,    and    now 
They    in    His    presence    love    Him    still." 

"Do    they 

Look   down   and   see    you?     Do   they  know  the  war 
Still    makes  you    cry,   dear    mamma?     If   they   live 
Why    do   they   never    speak,    nor    come    and    help? 
Your    little    girl    would    come    so    quick    to    you 
If   she    were    safe    in    heav'n,   and    you    were    here 
So    sad.     O    see!     O    see    the    falling    stars! 
Not    far    away,    but    coming    near    us    now." 
It    was    a    sudden    shell    that    upward    wheeled. 
Whose    single    sparkle,    as    they    looked,   had    stayed 
Its   course    midway  the    far    blue    arch,    and    now 
With    sound    as    if  a    thousand    eagles    swooped, 
Wings    beating    hard, — an    awful    shrieking    rush- 
Fell   close    and    burst   with  deaf'ning   roar.     Mabelle 
A    shriek  of   terror   uttered,    and    the    babe 
Awoke,    and    to    the    safer    room    withdrawn, 

216 


The    mother    seeks    to    soothe    its    cries.      But    while 
She    tries,    and    gains    her    wish,   before    the    cave 
Men    bear    a   citizen    struck    clown.      She    hears 
At    last    the    whispered    question    of   her    child. 
"Was    that    star    filled    with    thunder  ?" 
"  Death,    my    child. 
O    God!    hear   thou   the    mother's  prayer   in   hour  so 

dread!" 

"  O    mamma,   I    shall    never    want    to    look 
At    stars    again    in    all    my    life." 

"The    sky, 

Mabelle,   holds    stars    that    never   fall,    but    shine 
In    beauty    blessing    all    the    earth.       Look    there, 
My   child,   in    gladness,    for    below    I    fear 
Will    come    to    thee,    as    to    us    all,    the    grief 
Which    clouds    this    life    forevermore.       God    holds 
His    stars    secure    in    yonder    sky.       They    shine 
High    fixed    above    what    seem    your    falling    stars. 
O    child,    there    safety    is    alone.       God    keep 

217 


Thee    ever   when    thy    life   shall    cease    below 

As    safe    and    free    from    ill    received    or    wrought, 

As    they   this    hour.     And    may   thy   heart  but  know 

His    love    and    strength,  .for    then    shall   be   for  thee 

A    safer    home    than    know    the    safest    stars." 

u  Mamma !    If   I    were    star    so    good,    so    safe 

As    they    that    sparkle    in    the    sky,   I'd    keep 

The    naughty    stars    from    falling."     As    she    spoke 

A    second    shell    came    whirling    fast    and   fierce 

And    heavily,    as    demon    downward    cast, 

But    farther    fell,    yet    woke    again    the    babe, 

Whom    tenderly    the    mother    comforted. 

u  Hush,  hush,  my  babe,  and  hide  the  love-bright  eyes, 

From    sight    too    sad    to    greet    their    tenderness. 

Sleep,  sweetest,    sleep,  if  sleep    may    bring   its   balm, 

In    pain    of   strife,  to    even    thy    young    heart." 

"  Sing,  mamma,  sing    a    lullaby    to    her, 

Dear   baby    sister    and    to    me!" 

"What    song 

218 


Can    mamma    sing    in    place    so    filled    with    fears  P11 
'•  O,  sing    about    the    stars,   the    bright,  good    stars 
That    never,  never    fall/' 

And    with    a    vcice 
That    trembling,   shook    its    tears    aside,  she    sang: 


1.  Lit  -  tie  stars  a  -  bove    us  shin-ing,  Al- ways  in     the    sky. 


,_, 


Look  -  ing  down,  but    nev  -  er    fall  -  ing,    Nev  -  er    mak-ing 


$     -A 

V 

—  !s  — 

--T 

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-*  ' 

0 

t    ' 

g 

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1  1 

ba     - 

by 

* 
crv.     Watch 

*> 
her 

still 

till        by 

and     1 

'7- 

Angel    stars    on    babv    smiling-, 
Safe    in    yonder    sky, 

Keep   the    naughty    stars    from    falling, 
Always    making    baby    cry, 
And    she  '11    bless    you    bv    and   by. 

Softly    the    low    notes    rose    and   soothed    the    babe, 
But    moved   by    thoughts    her    own  the  mother  kept 
A    little    while    the    minor    strain,  and    sang: 


219 


Little    heart    so    softly    sleeping, 
Heav'n    so    safe    and    high, 

Hath    no    brighter    star    in    keeping, 
Far    above    the    bending    sky, 
Than    thou    shall    be,  by   and  by. 

By    and    by!     O    faith    be    perfect!. 
Tho'    the    silent    sky 

Keeps    the    starry   souls    resplendent, 
Bringing    ne'er    their    comfort    nigh, 
Silent,  too,  till    by   and  by. 

Naughty    stars,  O    sad    heart    sorrow, 
Falling    till    we   die, 

Tho'  yon  loving  help  be  holden, 
Leaving  thee  we  soon  may  try 
Their  sweet  rest  in  by  and  by. 


"Mamma,  what  makes  you  cry?"     "  The  cruel  war  !" 
"Will    it    ne'er    cease,  nor    we    be    glad    again  P11 

220 


PART  III— BOOK  7. 

HILE    now  the  sergeant  and  his  friend 

did    rest 
In    safety    on    the    hillside    camp,   there 

passed 

Two    soldiers    on   the    path    below.      They    chose 
That    path    which    o'er    the    open    railroad    led, 
Abandoned    long;    for    rirle    balls    had    cut 
A    standing    post,    and    whittled    it,    till    all 
The  camp   had   learned   to  dread  that  way,  tho'  near. 
These    up    the    slope    did    follow,    and    across 
The    level    track    the    first    half   way    had    gone: 


The    second    but   a    foot    upon    the    tie 
Had    pressed,    and    turned    to    speak    reply   to  words 
Of   friendly    warning    shouted    in    alarm, 
When    hissed    the    fatal    minie,    and    did    pierce 
His    temple.      Swift    they    bore    him    back,   but  dead. 
A    simple    burial    was    his.      A    grave 
Full    shallow    on    the    slope    was    made    and    he, 
Within    his    blanket    wrapped,    was    hid    from    sight. 
Meanwhile,    more    sobered    than    if   death    had  come 
'Mid   fiercest    battle,   sat    they    there    and  talked: 
And    one     brought    by    a    picture    he    had    found 
Where    fell    the    soldier    in    his    blood,    and    this 
Was    stained    with    blood:     A  picture  plain   and  yet 
Mayhap    that    loving    heart    at    home    was    pierced, 
By    that    same    stroke  which  gave  to    him  who  kept 
That    likeness.       While    they    spake,    a    loud    report 
From    cannon    on    the    hill    above,    beyond 
The    railroad,    came    with   shout   and    laugh.      The}' 
turned 


To    see,    and    lo,    the    piece    that    sent    its    shell 

Hot    on    the    foe,    had    reeled,    and    ill    restrained, 

Rolled    downward    o'er    the    steep,  long    slope, 

Nor    rested    till    its    base    remained    at    ease 

Upon    the    hollow's    bed,    there    pointing    straight 

Its    grim,    war-blackened    muzzle    to    the    sky. 

Upon    the   sight    so    comical    there    looked 

A    visitor    from    some    near    battery, 

As    now    he    left    the    hill    with    merry   jest 

At    this,    his    comrades1    deadly    mode    of  strife 

By    which    the  front    and  rear  were  threatened  both. 

He    too,  unconscious    of  the    soldier's    fate, 

Slain    but    an    hour    before,  did    stay    his    steps 

Upon    the    railroad    track,  but    nearer    where 

It    pierced   the    hill,   and    more    exposed,  to    see 

What    of   the    hostile    tine    he    could.     Mistake 

Most    fatal!    for   the    watchful    rifleman 

The   range,    by    practice    long,  exact   possessed. 

Full    on   his    forehead    smote    the   ball;    and    he 

223 


With    leap    convulsive,  fell    afar,  and    near 

Where    sat  the   sergeant   and   his   friend.     Such   acts 

Of   kindness    as   might    be,   were    rendered    prompt. 

And  word  passed  swiftly  brought  his  comrades  down 

Who    bore    him    back    and    for    him   cared  what  way 

They   could.     And    sick    at    heart,    the    citizen 

Declared    his    purpose.     "  Sergeant,    I    must    leave. 

These    scenes    are   sad,   too    sad   for   me;"  nor  closed 

With    speech    his    thought,    before    the    orderly 

Once  more  appeared  and  named  the  sergeant's  name. 

This    time    the    labor,    oft    and    hard, — fatigue, 

On    rifle    pit    on    far    advance,    his    hand 

With    others,    must    continue.      "  Nay,"   said    he 

To    Hearty,    "  you    must    learn    this    work  as    well, 

Before    you    go:     and    tho'    'tis    relished    ill, 

You'll    soon    forget,    as    we,    depression    great 

At    death.     Come,   shake    it   off,   and    go!      Indeed 

I    think    I'll    use    authority,    for    now 

Experience    new    you  '11    taste."     Consent    he    gave 

224 


At    last;    and    night    full    soon    came    on,    and    they 

This    order    heard    as    fell    they    into    line: 

"  Let    there    be    quiet    in    the    ranks.       We    go 

To   dig    another    trench    extending    on 

And    working    toward    division    on    the    right. 

It    lies    hard    by    the    rebel    line.       Reliefs 

In    charge    of   sergeants,  thirty    each,  will    be. 

And    this    to    you,  and    this    to    )'ou,  and    this 

The    third    to    you,1'    and    Sergeant    Mars    received, 

And    to    his    friend    as    out  they   passed,  spake  thus: 

lt  Follow    me    close;    this    winding    trench    goes    on 

Straight,  leading    toward    the    foe,  along    the    track 

Of  railroad    old.     Now    leave    its    zigzag    path 

For  ground  whose  surface  claims  no  finished  trench, 

And    hug    the    ties    nor    make    too    large    a    lump. 

And    here    we're    hid  somewhat,  and    here  will    wait 

Our   time    to    take    the    spade.     My    rubber    use, 

O    citizen!    I    need   it    not;  so    warm 

The  night  and  earth."     And  Hearty  spoke  surprised: 

*5  225 


"  But    here    are    iron    balls!" 

And    he    replied: 

"  A    fact,  and    hurled    by    rebel    battery 
From    yonder    fort.     Clear    off  a    space    for    both." 
"  But    will    you    sleep    here  ?" 

"  Certainly,  why    not  ? 

Sleep  here  ?     Aye,  sleep   a  sleep  as   sweet  and  sound 
As    e'er    I    had    at    home." 

"What    if  they    try 
Their    work    again  ?" 

"  Why,  then    they    must,  that's  all ! 
But  we  don't  think  they  will.     We  Ve  used  this  place 
Before.     They    like   to    sleep    as    well    as   we, 
And  when  we  let  them,  do.     Come,  down  and  sleep." 
And    whether    slumber    deep    the   wear}*    man 
Held    like    the    soldier,  yet    he    slept    to    hear 
And   slowly    wake   at  words    the    sergeant    spake. 
"Up!    men,  and    at    'em!     Citizen,  your    land 
Expects    each    man    to    do    his    duty.     Spades!" 

226 


And    led,  the    last    relief  came    where    the    work 
Lay,  on    the    line,  near    finished    to    the    trench 
Upon  the  right.     Stakes   marked  the  winding  course. 
u  Come  here!"    the  sergeant  said,    "and  sink  the  pit 
From    top,  to    depth    of    safety    first." 

"But   there 
They  '11    see   you    if  you    do  !" 

"  And    so    can   you 

See    them    as    well!     Work    fast,  and  sink    the    line 
Along    and    deep,  to    hide    yourself  from    sight; 
And    dig    with    energy    for    life's    at    stake  !" 
u  How    near    that    fort    are    we  ?"  he    gasped. 
"A   hundred   yards   at   most;    give    me   that    spade 
A    moment.     We    must    burrow    fast,  my    friend. 
And    as    he    delved,  his    friend    looked    on    amazed: 
"  I    never    saw   such  speed  !     You've  gone  half  way. 
What's   that?      A   ball !      They're     shooting     at    us 

here." 
And,   as  the   soldiers  stayed  their  work,  "wait  now," 

227 


The  sergeant  said,  "  and  see  if  they're   not  through, 
Ah  !    volleys    one — two — three  ;    they're    Texas    men 
In    yonder   fort;    nor    do    they    give    delay. 
That's    right,   and    get    you    where  the    pit  is  done." 
And    while    the)'    safety    sought,    the    sergeant    stood 
Alone   to   see  what    best    and    next;    and    still 
The    hissing    minies    came    and    he   their    mark. 
"Come,    sergeant,   with  the   rest!     They'll    shoot  you 

sure,'' 

The    soldiers    ur'ged,    till    he    at    last    replied: 
"Not  there;    but    less   a   mark   I'll   give.     This  grass 
Protects;"    and    in    its    waving    plumes    concealed 
He    lay,    to    practice    in    his    sphere    conceit 
Most    strange:    that    clanger    courted    for    itself 
By    those    responsible,    is    greater    deed 
Than    safety    even  justly  sought,    if   sought 
Alike    by    others    wanting   his    degree. 
And    there    he    heard    the    citizen    declare: 
"  I'll    get    away    if  e'er    I    can,"    and   this    reply 

228 


From    soldier   near:    "As   well    wait    on   till    day; 
The    trench    is    deep    and    shelter    gives    you    here. 
Why    act    the    fool    to    come    at    all?      For    here 
Would    I    not    be    did    duty    not    compel." 
But    silence    falling,    up    he    rose    and    spoke: 
"Come    men,    they're    through.     A    half  hour's  work 

will    join 

This    to    the    rifle    pit    beyond.     Let's    haste: 
The    dawn    is    nigh.      Don't    linger    there.      The    pit 
If   need    arise,    is    shelter    still    for    you!" 
Promptly   they    came,    and    soon   the    citizen; 
u  The   half  hour's   done  and  yonder  comes   the  morn, 
Yes,   and    these   balls  !       They    graze    the    upthrown 

dirt." 

4'And    the    task's    done  !      At    will    to    quarters    go!" 
Thus  spoke  the  sergeant^  then   his  friend   addressed: 
u  Well,    citizen,    you    wrought    not    ill.      Like    it?" 
u  Like   it  ?     If   ever   you  get    me   again 
On   work    like   this    you'll    know    it.     Once    a   ball 

229 


Burned    hot    beside    my    ear.n 

"  Too    long,    perchance! 

But    seldom    are    these    fellows    wakeful    thus, 
And    if   they    fire    their    aim    is    wide    its    marks. 
But    come!    the    negro    pioneers,    late    formed, 
Will    work    to-day    and    widen    out    the    trench." 
"  So    at    the    last    you    wisely    deign    to   use 
Such    labor,    long    most    foolishly    refused. 
But    what's    the    sentiment    among   you    here?" 
"  'Tis    rather    practical.       The    hand,    they    say, 
That   plies    the    spade    for    me,    or   helps    my    task 
Of  danger,    welcome    is;   and    if  the    ball 
Is    stopped    by    his    instead    of  body    mine, 
'  Tis   well !      About    thus    reason   some,   the    mostr 
It    may   be,  yet    the   broader   scope    some    take 
And    question    large    and    grave    in    all    its    weight 
Is  judged   by    what    is    right,  not    politic. 
But   here   we   are  at    home,    '  sweet    home '    again.'7 

230 


PART  III— BOOK  8. 


EST,   such    as     comes    to  those   unused 

to    hours 
Broken  of  sleep,  took  Hearty  in  the 

day, 

That    when    he    slept    he    half  awaked,    and    when 
He    wakened    still    he   seemed    to    sleep.       At    last, 
All   unrefreshed,    assent    he    gave    to    walk 
With    Sergeant    Mars,    fresh    from    an    easy    nap, 
Where    springs    supplied    the    water   to    the    host. 
And   underneath    the    bridge    they    took    the    path 


Cut    deep,  the    deadly    railroad    track    to    shun. 
"And    how    engaged    is    yonder    group?"    asked    he, 
The  friend,  as  on  they  went.     "  With  games  of  dice.11 
"But    do    the    soldiers    gamble,   Sergeant    Mars?" 
"Well,  yes!     A    fever    period    sweeps    the    line, 
And    many    try    their    luck."     "Not    all?"     l  O,  no! 
Not    all,   and    then,  against    the    sentiment. 
For   each    must    back   his    deed    with    some    defence, 
Even    unasked.     Yet    rages    oftentimes 
Contagion    for    the    slippery    chance,  and    some 
Go    headlong    you  had    not   believed."     "  And  there, 
Still    farther    on,  are    some    who    play   with    cards! 
Surprised  ?     For    sport    they    play."     "  But  we  were 

taught 

'Twas  wrong."     "What  ill  if  but  to  pass  the  time?" 
"  'Tis    dangerous,   I    say,  but    you    must    know." 
"  If  gambling    evil    is,  then    dangerous    this. 
Of  those    I    know,  a    hundred    men,  who    first 
Played    not    and    then    did    play  for  sport,  but    three 

232 


Remain    of   all    who    have    not    less    or    more 
Gambled,  and   these    indeed  who  ne'er  have  learned 
To    play.     To   know   the    use    of  sharp,    edged  tools 
Gives    ease   to    cut    what    lies    at    hand,  and    games 
Grow    weary    oft    and    must    some    added   zest 
Receive,  as    when    some    wager    lies    at    stake. 
Yet    when    we    came    the    first    few    days,  along 
Our    hillsides,  like    the    snow-flakes    large,   appeared 
The  cards,  look  where  you  would.     The  battle  breeze 
Had   early    blown    them    from   the    soldiers    hand." 
"  Then    some    impression    danger    makes  for    good  ?" 
"  Surely.     No    true    man    lives    in    all    our    camp 
Who    cares    not    something    for    the    near    unseen.'1 
"  Your    chaplains,   then    are    active  ?" 

"  Like    the    world 

At    large,  of  these    are    some    most    true,  and   some 
Worthless,  and    purpose    grandly    good    and    high, 
Rises    and    falls    with   the   tide,  now    ebb,  now    flow. 
Yet    much    in    truth    the    ill    in    army    life 


Acknowledge    it    at    once.      And    war    at    best 
Doth  have  some  fearful    wrecks.     And  here  you  see 
Familiar    grown,    with    death    and    danger    nigh, 
Slight    care    have    they    for    that    which  held  at  first 
Solemn    and    awful    prospect.       Here's    the    spring!" 
"Tis  guarded;  why?"     "The  spring's  a  treasure  rare. 
And    so    we    set    a    guard    to    watch    it.       Ours 
Is    best;    but    if  the    guard    had    been    late    set, 
Inferior    spring    had    fallen    to    our    lot." 
"And  venders  here!"     "Yes,  soldiers,  merchants  turn'd, 
With    cake    of  years    and   honor    full,    and    sweets, 
How    like    the   fruits    from    Araby    the    blest! 
— And    various    merchandise    whose    charms    diverse 
Oft    win    their    way    brought    to    the    purchaser, 
To    save    his    visit    to    the    sutler's    stand, 
— Those    noble,  sacrificing    men    of  war. 
Along   this    hollow    here    might    well    be    called 
Our  'market  street.'    Trees  lift  their  shelt'ring  boughs; 
We'll   rest    awhile." 

234 


"  And    no    where    else   you    find 
Water    your    need    to    meet?"" 

"  Upon    our    right, 

And    more    remote    from    springs,    men    go    at   night 
From    either    army,    and    on    ground    midway 
Meet    \vhere    a    deep    well    water    gives,    anear 
A    house    deserted.       Here    ofttimes   they   talk 
Keeping    the    tacit    truce,  till    warned    perchance 
By    distant    Vicksburg's    clock,  or    conscious    else 
The    high    debate    for  Right    too    warm    has   grown, 
They   wisely    separate    to    keep    the   peace." 
"What    firing's    that?1' 

"  The   regular    salute, 
Our    heavy    battery    behind    our    lines  !" 
"  See!    yonder    great    commotion   is."     "That's    trueT 
And    let   us    walk    that    way    and    learn    its   cause. 
Ah,  some    one    wounded!     Tell    us    what  it  means!" 
The   sergeant    asked    a    soldier    standing   near; 
And    he:    u  The    heavy    siege   guns    sending   shells 

235 


With   fuses    cut    too    short.     A    sergeant    there 
Issuing    rations    to    the    men,  with    hands 
Taking    the    rations    from    the    box,   was    struck 
By    falling    fragment.     Both    hands    fell    at    once 
Clean — cut    into    the    box."     "My  God!"    exclaimed 
The    citizen,    "  why    need    they    do    such    work  ?" 
"  Your   answer    were    as  good  as  mine,"    said  Mars, 
"  But    hear!    A    second    volley;    yes,  and    see! 
It    bursts,  aye,  short!  And  there's  a  piece!    'Twill  fall 
Here  somewhere.     You    can    see  it!     There   it  goes, 
And    we    are    safe.     But    let    us    flee    our    guns." 
And    as    they    hastened,  spake    the    citizen: 
'•  I    never   knew    before   a    man    could    see 
Such   falling    piece    and    disbelieved    you    when 
Before,    you    said    you   saw   the    solid    shot. 
I    did    not    tell    you    so,    but    own    it    now. 
For    that    sharp    whirring,    shivered    iron   bolt 
I    saw,    a    blue,    black    speck,    an    evil    eye 
Picking    me   out    for   woe.       Where    now  ?" 

236 


"But    here 

To  get  some  books  back.     You  will  need  some  help 
To    pass    the    hours.       I    picked    them    up   as    came 
We    here.       Debow's    Review,    and    two    or    three 
Bound    volumes    of   a    magazine,    and    these 
I    lent    this    captain.       You    can    read   them    o'er 
When    we    are    out    and    you    in  -  camp    alone. 
But    not   just    yet  :       Your    education    lacks 
Somewhat    of   finish    still    in    soldier    life." 
"  Books  !    but   you    surely  did   not  take  them'' — "Ah  I 
You    stop.       You    mean    I    did    not    steal    them,   eh? 
The    word    you    want    is    'confiscate,'    but    then 
Easy    your    soul    may    rest,    for    these    I    found 
Left    in    an    open    field    where    other    camp 
Had    been,    and    else    had    ruin    met.       But    here 
We   are !     And  what  is  that  command  ?     'Tnis  LINE 

WlLL    MAN    THE    RIFLE    PITS     WITH   WHAT  OF    FORCE 
CAN     USE     THEM,     FRONT     AND     REAR.         AT     THREE 

ENGAGE   THE   FOE  WITH   HEAVY   FIRE   FROM  ALL, 

237 


EACH   MUSKET   USED,    WITH    BATTERY'S    ASSAULT 
FIERCE    AND    CONTINUOUS.      BEFORE    THE    FRONT 
OF  LOGAN,   MINE   THEY  SPRING,  AND  WHILE  THEY 

THERE 
SHALL    CHARGE,   so    HERE    IF   CHANCE    BUT   OFFER 

FAIR." 

338 


PART  III.—  BOOK  9. 

GAIN    the    lines    of    Vicksburg    enter! 

Seek 
Again    the    mother   and    her   children, 

where 

Dark,  damp  and  cheerless,  yet   their  cave  home  gives 
Safe    shelter    from    the    awful    storm    of   war. 
E'en    as    we    look,    slight    stir    betokens    life 
Awakened    to    new    force.       They    gather   there 
About    a    stretcher    where    a    soldier    lies 
Sick,    wounded    slight,  the  father  now  brought  home 
From    trench   advanced,  and   as  they  place  him  there 


239 


Where   brightest    seems    the    always    gloomy    cave, 
And    leave    him    with    the    wife   alone,    he    speaks: 
"•I    can    endure    the    strain    no    longer!       What 
With    broiling    sun    and    narrow    rifle    pit, 
And    food    so   worthless    that    its    highest    claim 
For    merit    is    its    scantiness,    and    with   the    storm 
Of   sky   and    shot   to  bear  through  hours  where  rest 
Is    not,    I'm    sick.       I    wish    with    all    1113*    heart 
That    Pemberton    would    hang    the   white    flag    out 

C7  O 

To-morrow,    yes,    to-day.       Rebel    I've    been 
Bitter    and    strong    and    long,   but    sick    I    am 
Of  war    and    sleepless   nights,   and    good   men   killed, 
With    no    great    gain    above   the    olden    time.'1 
And    as    he    spake,    a    neighboring    woman    came, 
Tall,    angular,    and    heard    his    words,    and    cried: 
"A    coward!     Coward!     What!     I    think    'tis    time 
You    died  with    speech  so  trait'rous.     Give  your  guns 
To   women,    they'll    soon    make    the    Yankees    fly, 
Curse   on   them    ev'ry    one  !n 

240 


"  M\'    gun    is    there, 

Take    it,    and    show    us    how    to    fight  !"    said    he. 
"O    you  !     You!  skulker    you!      Til    not    endure 
Such    insult,    language    cowardly;"    and    forth 
In    wrath    appalling    stalked,    with    courage    writ 
In    letters    luminous    on    her    sharp    face. 
And    she,    the    faithful    wife,    with    tender    touch, 
Soothed   with  soft  hand  the  fevered   brow,  and  spake: 
u  O    darling,    I'm    so    glad    you're    here.       May    be 
The    war    must    wage,    and    surely    we    must    win, 
I    pray    for    it    to    Him    who    rules,    and    know 
Your    true    heart    beats    as    ever    bold    for    us, 
And    none   would    dare    and   do    beyond    your   deed; 
But    weary    worn,    I'm    so    sorry,    too, 
For    you    hard   racked    with    pain.     And    yet  I  wish, 
O    I    seem    always    wishing,   that    the    war 
Were    done,    and   you    and    I  .  again    could    rest 
Beneath    the    shelter    of  our    little   home. 
And    sometimes,    dear,    before    I    catch    my   thought, 

16  241 


My   heart    in  whisper    low,  speaks  words  like  yours. 

I    cannot    help    the    silent    questioning, 

What    gain  ?      What    gain    above    the    olden    time  ? 

But    let   us   give    no    care   to    gloomy    thoughts. 

To-day   my    hand    must    learn    a   higher    skill 

To    soothe,    and    bring    the    glad   health   back    again. 

Rest,    weary    eyes;    rest,    weary    heart,    and    give 

To    future   strength   the   doubts   and    hopes,  nor  now 

Vex    more    yourself   deciding    good    and    ill/1 

And    as    these    words    their    charm    began,    Mabelle 

Came  swift  from  friends  who  lived    in    cave  near  by, 

And    threw    her    arms    about    the    father's    neck 

With    sweet    caress,    and    eagerly    did    speak  : 

"  O    papa  !     I'm    so    glad    you've    come.      Is    war 

All    done,    and    shall    \ve    always    now    be    glad  ?" 

And    ere    the    careful    mother    could    restrain 

Her    child,    or   wisely    answrer    all,    there    came 

A    deep    and    sudden    sound    that    shook    the    hill, 

Then    swelled    to    uproar    such    as    none    had    heard, 

242 


And    he,    uprising    'gainst   entreaty,    cried: 

'•That    cannonading!    aye,    and    musketry! 

And    louder,  louder  still!     They  charge,  the}'  charge! 

My   gun,    quick,    hand  it!     I  must  go!"     And  while 

With    feeble    step    he    sought    his    gun,    and    forth 

Essayed    to    go,    the    wife    entreating,   cried: 

u  O    husband!  do  not  go!  too  slightly  your  strength  !" 

And    as    she    stayed    his    steps    with    slender    force, 

In    rushed    the    woman    brave    who    left    brief  space 

Before,   and    loud    and    oft    her   cries:  "O    save! 

O  save!     The  Yankees  come!       We    shall  be  killed!" 

And    to    her   spake    the    wife:     "Help    me,    and    be 

Worth    something."       And    the    woman    answering, 

"  I    thought    he    wanted    Pemberton    to    yield," 

Yet   placed    herself  a    barrier    in    his   way. 

'•Out    of  my    path!"    said    he;    "I    will    be    there 

And   do    in}-   part    to    save    the    town,"    and    forced 

His    way,    and    rushed   the    street    along,    pursued. 

And    from    exhaustion    fallen,    was    brought    home 

243 


By    citizens    who   were    not    slow    with    words: 

"  'Twas  foolish!    Come,  #et  strong,  then  right  it  out." 

"  Wait,  then,  I  must,"    he  gasped,    "but  no  one  knows 

Mow   well    he    loves    the   cause    till    lost    it    seems." 

"There   goes   an    orderly!     I'll    learn   the    news. 

Halt,  halt  !     What    of   the   front?"  and    he   replied: 

%'A    mine,    and    half   a    regiment    blown    up  ! 

'  Tis    Logan's    force,   but    on    our    inner    line 

Suspecting    ill,    another    work    we    built, 

And    now    the    crater    both   are    holding  ;    each 

A    half."     "And    still   we  hold  the  line?"    "Aye,  aye, 

And    can,    till    comes    the    crack    of   doom." 

He    passed ; 

And    more    content    the    soldier    sought    his    couch 
And    heard    the   words   of   sweet    Mabelle: 
"  O   papa  !     When    we    felt    so   glad,    the    war 
Made    mamma  cry,   and    me;    and    will   war    come 
Alway    just    when   we   all    begin    to    be 
Happy?     And    must    we    always    be    so    sad?" 

244 


PART  III.— BOOK  10. 


PON  the  hillside  camp,  meanwhile,  and 

armed, 

They  waited  long;  and  when  the  earth 
quake's  stroke 
(So    like    was    man's    grand    effort    to    destroy) 
Fell,    and    the    hillside    bounded    so    that    men 
Prostrate,  a    blow    did    seem    to    feel    from    earth, 
Uplifting,  fire    of  rifle    blazed,  and    voice 
Of  cannon    shouted    long    and    loud    their    wrath. 
While   these    assailed    the    foe    from    right    to    left, 


245 


Swart    Logan    sought    to    pierce    his    stubborn  front. 
Vain    each,   vain    all,  for    large    success!     And    calm 
Fell    on    the    camp    again;    nor    long    had    been, 
When    came    detail    for    company    to    which 
Belonged   the   sergeant.     Once  would  he  have  sought 
By    reason    of  late    watch    and    toil,  excuse 
To    wait    and    rest    in    camp.     But    now    so    few, 
Of  those    whom    yet    the   hissing    ball    had    left 
Worn    with    the    toil,  beset    with    fell    disease, 
None    could    be    spared.     And    only    six    good    men 
Their    place    had    filled    at    command.       But    Hearty 

stayed 

In    camp,  sore    tired    with    his    experiment. 
The    others    to    the    hill's    near    summit    climbed, 
Their    duty    to    support    the    force    within 
The    trench,  yet    with    the    morning's    light    to  be, 
—And    all    the    day — sharpshooters.     On    the    earth 
Prostrate   they    slumbered    soon,  nor   woke    till    fast 
And    faster    still    the   rain   drops    fell;    nor    then 

246 


Did    some,   till    long    well    soaked,    the    shower  heed. 
Impetuous    the    storm,    and    slanting    waves 
Rushed  from   the   sky  and   swayed   and   swept  along, 
And  torrents   formed   that   flowed  the  hillsides  down, 
And    laughed  and  gurgled  loud  o'er  trench-made  beds, 
And    moaned    disconsolate,    that    empty    found 
Were    most;    but    noisier    grew,    and    roared    amain 
With   strength    brief   held,    as    swept  it  o'er  a    bank 
Slight    made,    about    the    couch    where    Hearty  slept, 
Safe    to    this    hour,    beneath    a    shelter    formed 
With  cunning    by   the    sergeant's   hand   where   twain 
The    ponchos   hung    above.       But    with    the    sweep 
Of   unchained    current,    stakes   gave    way    and    o'er, 
Beneath,    and    all    around,    the   citizen 
Was   stormed    and    captured    ere    he    knew. 
He   pondered    o'er    his    lost    estate,    and    then 
The    hill   climbed    where    the    others    sat,    the    rain 
Taking   as    calmly    as   they    could.      His    form 
They   welcomed    with   unseemly   jests,  or   such 

247 


They    were    to    him:    and    faithless,    Sergeant    Mars 
Began    to    tell    his    words    when    first    he    came. 
Tho'   sorely   piqued,    what   could    he  do?     But   this: 
A   vow    to    write    deep    in    his    soul    to    leave 
And    homeward    go    when  dawn  should  come.     And 

this 

Perceiving    from    his    moody    word,    they    spoke 
How    light    his    task    was,    tho1   it    seemed    so  hard 
Compared    with    theirs    that    no    cessation    had. 
And    sensible   of  this    he    grew    more    kind; 
And    one:     "Take    courage,    man!     I    came   at   dusk 
From    Logan's    front    where    I    had    gone    to    see 
Their    work,   and    better    fare    we    than    those    men 
Who    hold    the    crater.       Shells    and    hand-grenades 
Rolled   from    the    upper    slope    held    by    the   foe 
Came    always,    plunging    down    into    that    ditch, 
Or    hole,    made    by    th1    explosion.     Yet    our   men 
Stay    on:     And    many    hurt;    and    not   unlike 
This    one    I'll    tell    you  of.       He    stood,    the    while 

248 


Bravely   his    musket    using,  or    the    shells 

Light,   feathered,    held   by    hand,  and   one   had  tossed 

O  '  *f 

Squarely    into    the    fort    that    yet    did   fail 
To    burst.       Quick    it    was    siezed    by    enemy, 
Re-lighted,    downward    sent,    exploding    loud, 
And    one    broad  piece  cut  sharp  his  bowels  through, 
Falling    in    bloody    length;    and    he,    placed    near 
Where    it    was    safest    for   the    time,    did    moan 
Entreaty    hard    to    bear,    for    help.       While    thus 
He    lay,    another    lighted    shell    was    huned 
And    fell   between    his    arm    and    chest,  and    there 
Wedged  close;  its  short  fuse  shaking  sparks,  and  while 
With    piteous   voice    he    begged  some  to  take  it  out 
—A    task    impossible — it    burst,  and    death 
Brought,   shiv'ring    far    the    body    that    it    fell 
In    pieces    on    his    comrades."     As    he   told, 
Hearty    grew    sick,   and    still    the    night    and    rain 
Made    horror    grow    more    horrible.     And    none 
Could    say    they    easy    felt,  and    well.     This    spell 

249 


Unwelcome    was,  and    straight    they    called    for    him 
Whom    well    they    knew,  but    all    his    secrets    not, 
The   jolly    man    who    slew    the    grunting    reb 
And    then    outwitted    was    by    shoulder    strap, 
To    tell    his    best    experience    gay    and    give 
Mood    livelier.     And    he    straightway    began. 
"Well,  if  I    must,  on    you    rest    all    the    blame; 
For    acts,   if  wrong,  should    die;  but    now    you    seek 
To    keep    such    things    alive    in    memory. 
'Twas   in    Missouri    that    the    thing    occurred, 
And    in    those    days    a    craving    sometimes    fell 
Upon    us   such    as    milk    alone    could    help. 
And    this    refreshed    us    much.     So    once    I    took 
My    gun, — 't  was    night,  and    slowly  sauntered   forth, 
And    while    in    dignified    patrol    1    strode, 
(For    here    the  Aweary    guard    't  was    well    to  aid) 
Behind    with    cup    and    two    canteens,  my    mate, 
Whose    stronger    mind   was   apt    to    lead  me  wrong, 
Did    follow;    guilty    pris'ner,   too,   if  need 


For    such    arose.      Soon    in    the    gloom    beyond 

The    corn    crib    of  our    regiment,   and   where 

A    clump    of    trees    did   hide    the    form    right    well, 

A    dark,    still    object    met    my   eye.     And    yet 

As    paused    I    there    to    listen,    craunching    corn 

I    knew    the    cow    was,    while    a    wicked    man 

A  .grievously    offending   soldier    milked. 

In   voice  with  sternness  filled  'Who's  there?'  I  cried, 

And    hastened    forward.       Then    the    crouching   form 

Uprose,    uprose    and    fled    in    wild    alarm. 

Pursuit    I    made,    tho'    slow,  and  while    I    ran 

My   comrade    took    the    place    the    man    gave    up, 

And    guarded   by    me   was    marched    to    camp." 

"You    had    seen   service,"    up    spake    one,    "yourself 

By    this!" 

"Service!"    his    comrade    cried,    "I    think 
He  had,    and    yet    he    says    my    stronger    mind 
Was    apt    to    lead    him    wrong.       No    leading    he 
Required.       Had    I    not    held    him    back,    of  times 

251 


A    score,   the    trouble   he    had    fallen    on 

Had    turned  his   raven    locks    to    gray.       His    skill 

All    know.       If  mischief's    nigh    he'll    rind    it    first. 

Ask    him    about    the    gentle   heifer    milked 

On    picket    post,    then    tied    by    friendly    rope 

Till    morn,    and    fed    from    stolen    corn,    and    milked 

Again,    the    while    the    folks    upon    the    hill 

Did    wonder    why    their    cow    came    not;    and    bid 

Him    tell    how,    stealing    serpent-like    along 

Before   the    very    door    of  rebel    rich, 

He    softly    laid    the    rails    down,   one    by    one, 

At    corner    most    remote,   till    low    the    fence, 

And    then    did   softly    steal    away    and    wait 

The    innocent    and    portly    victim's    step, 

That   loving    liberty,    had  o'er    the    rail 

Unnoticed   gone,   and   sought   the   shade  and   stream. 

'Twas    there    he    lay,   and    with    no    pang    of  soul 

He    slew    the    unsuspecting    pig,   and    took 

In   haste    such    part    was    best    and    fled    away." 

252 


uHold    on!     my    boy,11    he    answered,    "not    so    fast! 

Ill    tell    a    bit    of  history    youVe    had 

And    prove    my    case:     deny    this    if  you    can!" 

And    all    "the    story!"    called,   nor   gave   more    room 

For    answer,    and    the    story    came.       "You    know 

'Twas    hard    for    tender    men    like    us   to    eat 

The    hard-tack    tough    and    bacon    tougher    still, 

And    oft    temptation    sore    beset    our    souls 

To    feed    on    what    was    at    our    hand    to    own 

Provided    we    were    sly, — the    stately    hog. 

Much    tried,   our    scruples    were    at    last    o'ercorne, 

And    carefully    into    the    night    and    storm 

(For    such    the    time    temptation    came    with    powV 

When  eyes  ot  guards  were  dimmed  of  all  their  tires), 

My    comrade    sallied    forth    and    followed    I. 

That    day    his    careless    glance   had    fallen    where 

Two   beasts   of  savage    form,    'Missouri    bears,' 

Lay    close    in   bed    of  leaves;    and   toward    this    spot 

We  turned  our  gentle  steps.     With  grief  we  'd  heard 


On    but    a    morn    or    two    before,   command 
Forbidding    all    such    exercise   as    this, 
And    lest    we    should    disturb    the    ColonePs    sleep 
We    scarcely    whispered.     And    beside    we    sought 
To    give    no    needless    toil    to    weary    guards 
Patrolling    streets    and    by-ways.       Soon   we    came 
Where  still  the  fierce  beasts  slumbered.     Stooping  low 
With    touch    as    gentle    as    the    breath    of   spring, 
My    comrade    sought    the   jutting    brow    to    deal 
A    blow    that    should    no    second    stroke    require. 
Such    patient    care   was    needed,  else    a    squeal 
Betraying    our    benign    intent, — to    end 
What    must   a    hard    life    be, — might    bring    on    us 
The    overtasked    and    suffering    patrol, 
—A   stroke    more    surely    aimed    than   that  we  dealt. 
Dark,    dark    the    night,    and   as  the  wet  wind  flapped 
Its    banner    in    his    face,    he    whispered,   'NOW 
ALL    RIGHT;'    and    blow    such    as   the    mighty    arm 
Of  youth    all    nerved    with    purpose    most    humane 

254 


Alone    could    give,    upon    the    sleeping    beast 
Did    fall.       O  !  never    from    mine    ear    will   go 
That   scream    so    piercing  !    wailing  out    its    woe 
Of    porcine    sorrow,    told    in    language    none; 
So    leeble    is    the    boasted    speech    of  man 
When    tested    by    this    brother's    higher    sense 
And    kinglier    and    deeper    sufferings. 
Brief   moment    passed,   and    with    it    we,    to   space 
Remote,   where    I    with    heavy    heart    did    learn, 
My    comrade    made    mistake    about    the    end 
He  hit."     "  Keep    now    a  sharp    look    out    and   care 
ful    guard, 

Men,    for    the    rebs    are    nearly    done    for,"    this, 
Bluff   speech    of   pickets    twain    sent    from    the    front 
Broke    on    the    story    and    gave    rise    to    words 
Not    answered    full;    for    passed  they    on  to    bear 
Their    message    grave    to    Grant. 

Slow   wheeled    the    hours 
Till    laggard    dawn,    and    late    the    driving    storm 


Abated,    and    the    red    sun    rose.       Their    place 
Not    fresh,    yet    ready,    took    the    men    in   trench, 
And    with    the    dawn    the    crack    of    rifle    rang. 
As    task    of   day   began.       And    back    the    guards 
Came    from    the   front,  their  watching  done,  and  told 
Of  picket    line    nearer    the    rebel    fort 
Advanced.       "Consent,"    said    they,    uOur    officer 
Got    from    the    enemy,   to    push    thus    close 
By   act    polite.       'A    fight    we    do    not    wish,1 
He    said,    k  and    yet    our    line    must    nearer    go: 
If   kindly    you    will    but    withdraw    these    guards 
A   little,    trouble    none    can    be,    nor    you 
Worse    off';    and    kindly   did    the    man    consent. 
And    so    we   took    their    line    and    ran    a    trench 
Where    only    late    their    picket    posts    had    been." 
And    Hearty    woke    to    life    at    this,    and   said, 
uAnd    is    that    war?"    and  Sergeant    Mars    replied: 
l*  Peace    hath    her    victories    and    this    is    one. 
If  thus    they'll    act   I'll    favor   peace   alway." 

256 


And    none    his   weighty  question    solved.      Soon  came 

The    officer    who    had    the    line    in    charge 

And    from    him   some  soon   learned  the  word   sent  on 

To    Grant.      T.he    story    of   the    picket    ran: 

"  On    post    I    talked    with    rebel    guard,   (a    truce 

Had    we,  and    by    agreement    did    exchange 

Opinions).      'Damage    great,'  said    he,   'our    shells 

Had    wrought    their    men    who  long    had  looked    for 

charge 
Renewed.'      But    when  none    came,   'twas  sought   to 

send 

Strong    force    against    us,  and    the    men    refused 
With    words    near    mutiny.      Assurance    then 
Was    giv'n,  that    effort    such    they  would  not  make, 
And    calmed    the    tumult.     But    he    farther    said 
They    also    heard    that    after    seven    more    days, 
So    long    would    their    provisions    last,  in    boats 
Across   the    river  all    would    seek    to    pass; 
And    added,  '  as    our   truce    expired    by    hour 


Struck    by    the    clock    on    court-house    in    the    town, 
—The    signal    we    had    set, — that    even    now 
Their    boats    along    the    river    bank    were    framed 
From    houses,  and    the    plan    proposed    would    give 
Two    thousand  boats,   in  which,1  he  said,  and  smil'd, 
'  They'd  sail  away  and  leave  the  city  to  its  doom.' ' 
And    Hearty    said    again:    "and    is    this    war?" 
And    none    replied,  but    gave    the    pickets    room 
To    go    their    way    with    the    deserters    few, 
And    each    one    to    his  duty  turned.     "  Here!    man," 
Cried    Sergeant    Mars    to    Hearty,   as    he    thought 
To    leave    the    trench    and    seek    the    hillside   camp, 
"A    sharpshooter    become ! "    and    straight    a    gun 
Placed    in    his    hands:     nor    he    refused;    but    where 
In    boxes    many    on    the    low,   safe    side 
Of  rifle    pit,   the    ammunition    was, 
Soon    learned    the    few    rules    of  the    rifle-man. 
"  'Twill    easy    be,"   the    sergeant    said,    "in    this, 
The    rear   trench    wide   and   deep,  to  use  your   skill. 

258 


Up!    stand    on   this    earth-step,  to    bring    your    eye 
Level    with    port    hole:    fire    whene'er   you    see 
Along    yon    hill    suspected    enemy. 
You  note  that  winding  trench  which  leads  this  way, 
Our    nearest   to    the    foe!      If  you   were   there 
You  'd  feel  the  force  of  hand-hurled  shells,  but  here 
In    comfort    fire    and    take    your    time!"       And    he 
Obeying,   looked,  and    looked    again,   and    said: 
"  I    see    there    nothing    but    a    yellow    line 
Upon   the    far    ridge    crest."     And    sergeant    Mars: 
"See!     see  that  horse!     Be  quick  and  try  your  skill!" 
And  answered  he:    "What!    shoot  a  harmless  horse?" 
"Of  course,"  the    sharp    reply,   "and    be    you  quick! 
He    starts    this    way;    the    rebs   will    kill    him    near 
Our  lines  if  chance  they  get."     "  Here  goes  then!  See 
He    falls!"    "and   up    again    he    gets    and    limps 
This    way,    too    near    us    now    for    us    to   end 
His  life.     But  hear!     They  see  their  chance  and  now 
He    dies    beside    our   ditch.      Just    hear   them   yell!" 


And  closed  the  sergeant's  anxious  speech  with  words 
More    desperately    calm :    "  we  '11    have   the    task, 
Not    they,    of  burying    the    slain."       Then    asked 
The    citizen:    "Is    that    oft    done?"       "Whene'er 
It    can   be    done,"    he    answered.       "  Hot    the    days, 
And    all    flesh    fades    in    its    known    way,    and    fast, 
Nor    gives    to    living    souls    an    odor    sweet. 
But    come    this    side!"       "What!     all     that     water 

through, 

And    mud?"   the    citizen    began,    and    Mars 
Replied:    "Of  course!       The    lines,  it    held,  must  be 
All    places    held.       Four    inches    deep,    no    more! 
'Tis    good,    quite    good,    to-day,    and    pleasanter 
E'en    here    than    when    it    rains    the    while.        Come,, 

come! 

Heed    not   the    sides;    your    clothes    will    only    lose 
Freshness    and    beauty    for    the    country's    weak 
The    mire   below,    and    on    the    sides,    no    ill 

Beyond    a   remedy,    can   work."      But   he: 

260 


"  This    narrow    trench    I    cannot    stand !       It    smokes 

Beneath    the    sun,    a    sun    as    hot    as    fire. 

Nor    will    I    stand    and    shoot    in    mud    like    that; 

Nor    lean    myself  against    these    walls    of   mud. 

I'm    going   back!"    nor    waited    for   reply. 

u  Hold    on!    there's    fun    ahead!    nor    can   we    give 

The    education    fit,  if  you    the   school 

Refuse!"    loud    cried    the    sergeant,    and    the    cit: 

u  Hang    education!    I    shall    learn    some    way 

Besides   this,"  and    was    seen    there    not    again 

That    day.     Yet    when    at    eve    they    came    to    rest, 

They    found    him    only    waiting    their    return 

To    say    good   by.     And    argument    they   used 

That  he  should  stay;  that   soon  the  town  would    fall 

And    he    should    see    it;    and    his    thoughts    diverse 

Caught    sonjp    attraction    in    the    cheering    word. 

For    not    one    thing    he    held    alone.     His    love 

And    honor   for    the    soldiery    remained, 

But   burned   the   brighter    when    he    saw    their    life 


Afar,  encircled   with   the   halo    crown 

Romantic;    nor    his    flesh    endured    right    well 

The   burdens    of  the    real    life   of  war. 

"Stay   yet    till   morn,"  the    sergeant    said   at    last, 

a  For    we    go    then,    a    few,  each    in    our    turn 

To   pass    the    day    at    place    where  rest    may    come, 

From    this  two  miles  removed,   and   clean  our   robes 

So    dainty,  yet    now    stained    somewhat,   and    there 

Think  over    all    your    woes,    and    meditate 

The  joys    that    may  remain. "      And    he    consent 

Did    give,    and    as    they   sought    to    mend    the    ill 

Their    couch    received    from    storm,    again  was  called 

The    sergeant   for    the    picket    work    of   night. 

Bidding    his    friend    go    at    the    morn    where    went 

The    others,    he    himself   to    follow    soon, 

He    took    his    place    in    line,    and    while    the    friend 

Slept    hard    the    sleep    of   one  worn  out,  he  watched 

On   post    the    slowly    passing    stars    till   day. 

The    morning    came,    nor    long    had    Hearty    been 

262 


At    mystic    shed    where    lived    the    skillful    cooks 

Preparing    the    luxurious    meals    those    men 

Fed    on    who    held    the    trenches,    when    returned 

The    sergeant.       Warned,  indeed,  yet  Hearty  seemed 

Forgetful    'twas    the    day    of   cleansing    high. 

Soon    saw    the    sergeant    on    his    face    a    look 

That    called    for    speech.     "What  row?  my  cit,  what 

now? 

A    horrible    disgust    is    writ    upon 
Your   front."     And   he   replied:     "  Yonder,  I've   seen 
The    soldiers   boiling    clothes    to    kill,    they    say, 
Life,    crawling   life  !    and    laugh    and    joke    of   heat 
Impossible    to    reach    their    vital    part, 
As    if   'twere    sport  !       Why,    only    now    I    heard 
Yon    soldier    cry  in   voice    stentorian 
He    had    not    slept    a    wink    the    night    before 
Because    these    things    played   base    upon    his   tiesh !" 
Of   this   last    awful    ill,    the    sergeant    spoke  : 
"Why,   if   they  battle    furiously   with   these 

263 


And    bravely    the   relentless    conflict    wage, 
Shall    this    not    wake    your    admiration    strong  ? 
These  noble  men  !     God  bless  them  all  !  these   brave, 
Grand  men  are  fighters  through  and  through,  nor  wear 
The    yoke    of   this    fierce  foe    with    easy    soul. 
Come,   mount    your    steed    and    ride  the  great  words 

down 
For    strife    thus    keot    against    the    fearful    odds  !" 

i.  O 

"  But    there's    no    glory    in    such    thing    as    this ; 

I    could    not    stand    it    for    a    single    hour." 

»_> 

"  '  O  wad    some    power    the   giftie    gie    us, 
To   see  oursels  as    olhers   see    us!' 

My   friend    mine    eyes    behold    you    prisoner    now; 

Go  !    borrow    yonder    kettle,   boil    your    clothes." 

"So    help    me,    I've    enough    of   army   life; 

I    thought    war    could    be    waged    with    decency  ! 

I'll    hear    no   more    your    argument    to    stay;1' 

And  to  his    words    proved    true,   for    when  came    by 

The   ambulance    in    train,    he    sought    Yazoo. 

264 


Ul'PEC   tNTUANCE  TO    VICESBUBG.* 


PART  III.— BOOK 


1 1. 


HANGE    we    the    scene    once    more. 

'Tis  Johnston's    camp, 

July's  first   scorching  morn!       With   anx 
ious    thought 
He    ponders    now    the    problem    how    he    best 
May    Vicksburg's    army    save    tho'    lost    the    town.. 
From    that    doomed    city    messengers    not    oft 
May    come,    and    fewer    to    it    go.       And    ere 
May    all    her    roll    of  battle    days    had    called, 
To    Pemberton   he    message    sent   of  strength 
Too    slight    to    save    the    city,    but    enough 


207 


It    might    be,    both    assaulting    Grant    at    once, 
One    from    within,    one    from    the    outer    field 
To    open    way    for    troops   besieged.       And    this 
Repeated    he    when    June's    twin    sevens    had    smiled 
And   died.       And    far    to   Richmond    sent    dispatch 
Of  hopeless    contest    'gainst    the    gaining    Grant. 
Large    force    from    Big    Black    river    to    the    heights 
— Haines'    Bluff,    held    Sherman,    skillful,    brave,    and 

strong 

''Gainst    his    assault,  as    Vicksburg's    walls    at    first 
^Gainst  Grant.     And  reinforcements  wished,  and  called 
From    Bragg,  and    Lee,  who    meanwhile  had    begun 
Invasion    North,  and    hence    no    help    could    send; 
Tho'    anxious    Davis    sought,  and    hoped    him   aid 
Enough;    nor   yielded    to    the    chosen    Lee, 
Who    asked    diversion,  since    all    force    in    hand 
Had    gone    in    haste    to    save    the    key    of  realm 
In    South    and    West.       Nowhere    precaution    spared 
The    foe,  whose    chief  each    chance    did    weigh, 

O      / 

268 


And    now    with    one    hand    crushed    the  city    down, 
And    grimly    with    the    other    kept    at    bay 
The    eager  Johnston.       And    within,    without, 
Fear    seized    the    heart    to    try    the    bloody    test 
Of  battle;    for    too    well    they    found    ill    fared 
All    conflict    with    the    silent    man    whose    name 
Was    Patience    when    not    Pluck    alone.       And  came 
Sad    story    from    the    sufFring    city,    soon 
To    fall.       Gaunt    famine    entered,  and   the    sick 
No    careful    hand   could    heal    where    noise    of   War» 
To    fright    the    flutt'ring    wings  •  of  Rest    away, 
Did    with    its    awful    thunder,  ceasing    not, 
Shake    Slumber   till    he    died.     And    all    the    food,. 
Ill    fitted    for    the    feeble    frame,  as    well 
Grew    scarce.     A    dire    extremity    had    come. 
Doom,  writ    in    letters    black,  seemed    hanging    o'er 
The    town.     Yet    hope    remained    if  soon    the    help 
Of  Johnston's    army   reached  them;    such  the  words 
Repeated    always,  varying    to   the   worse. 

269 


Then  Johnston    order    gave    to    move,    and   on, 
With    less^ing    hope    of   swift    relief  of   friends 
Slowly    his    host    pressed   toward   the   lines  of  Grant. 
Yet  stayed  they.     And  when  now  the  third  day  came, 
A    trusty    messenger    to    Pemberton 
Was    sent    to    set    the    seventh   for    the    assault. 
Nor    ever    reached    him:    pris1ner    safe    instead! 
And    Grant    perceiving    trench    and   fort    had    done 
Their    work,    and   fighting    desperate    had    grown, 
Ev'n    hand    to    hand,    and    seeing    victory, 
Ordered   the    grand    assault    one    day    before 
The    seventh.     And  still  the  siege  kept  on;  and  more 
The    suff'ring    hosts    within    did    suffer    still; 
And    still    the    weary   soldiers,    victors   soon 
Their    duty    met    with    ever    lessening    lines. 
Unceasing   still    the    sad    train    sought    Yazoo, 
Bearing   the    sick    and    dying    from    the    front: 
Many,    indeed,  yet   few  of   all   that  filled 
The    tent-built    hospitals   upon    the    hills. 


For    day    by    day,   the    fountains    fair    of   life 

Were  poisoned.       Dread  disease  claimed  victims  more 

Than  fatal    shell    and    ball.     Nor    Marah    fount 

Had    hope  of  change,  but  must  its  dark  stream  pour 

Northward,   if   e'er    it   lost    its    bitterness. 

And    o'er    the    road    that    wound    along    the    slopes, 

Where    trees   cut   low,  removed,  gave  slender  space, 

And    weary    wheels    of  well    filled    ambulance 

Struck    hard    the   roots,   or  dropped  with   heavy   jolt 

Into    the    deeper   rut,  racking    the    sick 

To    nearer    death,  or    starting    half  healed    wounds 

Afresh,   in    sad    monotony    of  pain. 

War's    worn    out    remnants    drifted    from    his    way. 

And    still    the    watchful    leaders    watched    the    foe, 

Where    now    the    wary  Johnston    drew    anear 

With    army    large.     And    thus    the  days    passed    on, 

The    few,  great,  weight}',  last   days   of  the   siege. 

271 


PART  III— BOOK   12. 


ND   all   these  days  slight   healing  brought 

to    him 
f      Who    waited    in    his    cave    home    dark. 

And    yet 

So   soft,    so    loving   was    the    touch,    the    care 
So    tender    and    so    faithful,    health    elsewhere 
Had    long    time    blossomed    red    upon   the    cheek, 
And  e'en  here  wrought  the  charm  that  baffles  death. 
And    now    slight    rest    the    weary    mother    takes; 
And    sweet    Mabelle    intent    with    childish    love, 


18 


Plans    something    helpful,    and    a    pitcher    clasps 
With    hand    so    small    it    ill    the    weight    can    bear. 
Soft    falls    her    step;    she    whispers    as    she    goes: 
"  While    weary    mamma    rests,    and    papa    sleeps, 
I'll    go    and    bring   some    water  sweet    and    cool. 
The    spring    is    full,    and    it    is    earl}-    now; 
I    shall    not    hear    the    bullets    singing    there 
That    music    strange    and    sharp    they    sing    at    noon. 
Once    when    I    went,    and    mamma    did    not    know, 
When    papa    was    so    sick,    and    called    and    called 
For    water,    water,    all    the    day,    I    was    afraid; 
For    tho'    I    looked    I    could    not    see    what    made 
The    sound    I    heard."      And    as   she    hastened    thus, 
Two    soldiers    from  the    front  came    by  and  stopped 
Where    la)-    a    shell,  one    of  the    man}-    near. 
"  This  shell,"  said  one,  "you  might  play  foot-ball  with! 
I'll    lift    it;  a    ten-pounder    with    the    fuse 
Gone    out!" — but     quick    he    stopped    his    speech    as 
shrieked 


His    comrade,  seeing    it    thus    careless    held 
Ready    to    fall:  "For    God's    sake    look!     A    cap 
And    unexploded!"     But  the    cry    he    heard 
Too    late,  for    from    his    grasp    it    rolled    and    smote 
The  hard  beat  road,  and  burst.     A  dread  sound  rose, 
As    death    came    swift    to    one,  and    one    did   fall 
Sore    wounded:    but    a    low,  sad    moan    was    heard 
From    other    lips    where    sank    the    sweet    Mabelle 
Struck  to  her  death.    Soon  friends  the  slight  form  took 
And    bore    her    back   in    sorrow    to    her    home. 
And    when    the    mother    came,    her    beating    heart 
Stilling    its    pulse    as    if   beneath    the    touch 
Of  death,   and    only    living    that    her    help 
Might    bring    Mabelle    relief,   the   weak   voice   spoke: 
"  I    went    to    bring    the    water    pure    and    cold 
To   papa,  when    a    great    noise    and    a    pain, 
Dull    and    then    sharp,   fell    on    me.     What    is    it, 
Dear   mamma  ?     O    the   pain!"     And    she    in   turn: 
"  O    my    sweet    child,   my    beautiful,    my    own, 

•    275 


What  have  they   clone  to  theet     What   shall   I  do  !" 
And    here    the    surgeon    gently    spoke,    whose    skill 
Had    sought    in    vain    some    charm    relief  to    bring, 
"Poor    child!    sweet    innocent!       I    wish    my    help 
Could   give  you   ease   and   health;    how    glad  I'd  be! 
And    I'm    so    sorry    too,  you    suffer    so." 
And    quick    to    learn,    she    sought    her    mother's   face 
Beseeching,  and    the    trembling    words    did    fall: 
"O   mamma!     can't   I   live!"      uNot   long  with  us," 
The    surgeon    answered,  in  %the    mother's   stead, 
"Fair  child,  dear  child,  but  hence  with  God  alway." 
Nor    from    the    mother's    face    the    sad    eyes    looked 
While  still  the  trembling,  whispered  words  came  slow. 
"Dear    mamma,  must    I    leave    you?     Papa    too? 
Who'll    bring    the    water    cool    and    sweet,  to    him? 
And    baby    sister    that    so    loves   to    lay 
Her    little    cheek    to   mine,  what   will    she    do 
Without   me?"     And  there  came  a  moment's  pause, 
For    now   the    less'ning    strength    more    feeble   grew. 

276 


But    soon    she    added:      "  O,  I    know!      I'll    go 

Where  yonder  shine  the  safe,  high  stars.     You  know 

You    told    me    mamma,    God    could    keep    his    own, 

His    little    children,  alway    safe   as    He 

The    bright    stars    keeps    so    far    above    the    ones 

That    fall     and    trouble,  making    baby    cry. 

And  won't  you  smile,  dear  mamma,  when  I'm  gone, 

To    think    of  me,    your    little    girl,    so    safe? 

I'll    listen,    too,    to    hear    you    when    you    sing 

To    baby    sister,    and    I'll    try    to    keep 

The    naughty    stars    from    falling    while    she    sleeps. 

Can't    I    do    more,    dear    mamma,    there  than  here? 

I'll    be    so    glad    to    help    you    still,    but    now 

It    hurts    so    when    I    speak.       Kiss    me,  mamma," 

And    silent    grew;    and    slow    and    slower    came 

The    breathing,    till    at    last    it    seemed  to    stop; 

Yet    then    in    clear,    sweet    tones    these    words  they 

heard : 
"Safe,    safe    above    the    falling    stars!"    and    none 


Saw    when    she    died:    so    calm    and  so    alike 

The    last    of   life,    the    first    of   death.       But    when 

Long    silence    fell,    the    mother's    heart    refused 

Its    beating,    and    she    lay    the    long    night   through, 

In  either    world,    now    dead,    now    giving    signs 

Of  life.    With  morn  came  greater  strength.    The  love 

Unselfish,    for    the    living    spoke    its    call, 

And    these    received    again    the    care    their    need 

Demanded.     Though  she  wailed  not,  yet  she  grieved 

As    only    mothers    grieve;    for    deepest  far 

Of  all    deep    graves,  are  those  that  lie  deep  digged 

Within    a    mother's    heart  of   loving  ones 

Bereft. 

When    ev'ning   came    a    few    did    meet 
About    the    dear    child's    form    to    hear    the    words 
The    aged    pastor    spoke,   whose   broken    voice 
Sometimes    was    lost  amid    the    louder   peal 
Of  cannons'    thunder    on    the    lines    afar. 
Yet  in  the  moments  hushed,  these  words  they  heard: 

278 


"  Dear    friends!  so    heavy    with    this    burden    great, 
So   pierced    with    anguish    to    the    deepest    heart, 
No    words    so    sweet,  so    strong    for    hour  like  this, 
As    these:    'Like    as    a    father    pitieth 
His    children,  so    the    Lord    doth    pity    them 
That   fear    Him.1     Or    the    tender    words:    'As   one 
Whom    his    own    mother    comforteth,  so    will 
I    comfort  you!'     What   more  hath  Heav'n  to  give? 
A  father's    pity    and    a    mother's    heart, 
With    sympathy    so    true,  uprllled    from    deeps 
That    measure    love    forever    infinite! 
Yes    true,  tho'    now    beheld — a    rainbow    truth- 
Through  tears;    O  look  and   see!     And  oft  the  hand 
Of  Love    must   hold   the    young  heart   back  from  ill 
That    seemeth    only    good    to    childish    eyes! 
How    oft    the   cup    of   bitterness    to    lips 
That    tremble    with    refusal,  press    to-day, 
That    bright    to-morrow    may    its    beaker    fill 
With    nectar    draught    of  pleasure    sweet   and    high. 

279 


Withholding    what    a    blessing    seems    for    good 
Beyond    compare,   is    evermore    the    part 
Of  parent    fond,  yet    true    to    offspring    loved. 
But    how    much    more    the    HeavYily    Father    knowrs 
The    good   of  HeavYi    outweighs    the    ill    of  earth ! 
The    lily    fair,    that    fades,   and    sparrow   frail 
That    flies    and    falls    beneath    the    eastern    sky 
Marked    by    the    Father's    watchfulness,  are    these 
Of  value,  like   the    sweet    white    soul    that    ope'd 
Its    snowy   wings    and   fled    to    God!       And    here 
As    cries    the   weary   parent    heart,  and    here 
As    willingly    that    parent    heart    would    break 
Its    fettered    life    to    spare    the    suffering    child; 
So    cried    the    tender    heart    above    for    this 
The    sweet,  calm    spirit    held    in    bonds    of  pain. 
So    cries    the    tender    heart    above    for    you, 
O    parent    heart,  whose    hurt    is    death    in    life. 
A    Father's    heart,  whose    only    Son    went    forth 
To    deeps    of  sorrow    measureless    to    man, 

280 


That    help    might    come    to    us    in    hour    like    this. 
God's    home    was    desolate,  that    lonely    homes 
Of  earth    might    somewhere    find    not    sympathy 
Alone,  but    that    which    makes    all    losses    up. 
Only    from    love    that    sees    a    fairer    good. 
Would    he    afflict,  as    never    willingly 
He    doth    afflict    His    loved    ones    left    awhile 
Before    he    brings    them    also    home.     And    love 

o 

Will    overbear    this    ill    to    good.      As    erst 

The   bold,  grand  prophet   swept   his   flight   on   wings 

Of  angels,  beating    strong    what    whirlwind  seemed, 

When    fiery    steed    and    chariot    passed    between 

Twain    servants    true, — a    flame    of    holiness— 

And   parted    saint    on    earth    from    saint  in  Heaven  ; 

Nor    record    bears    of   readiness    to    die, 

But    '  now    when    God    would    take    Elijah    up ' 

And    into    Heav'n! — God's    readiness,    not    his,— 

No   less    for    childish    heart    the    Father    planned 

Surprise    that    was    not    for    Himself   surprise. 

281 


A    sweet    surprise,   tor    out    of  grievous    painy 

Fit    offspring    of   the    curse    of  sin    long    felt, 

The  great    Omnipotence    hath    wrested    good 

Where  lesser  might  were  vanquished.     O !  my  friends.. 

We    shall    hereafter    know    what    here   seems    hard 

To    understand,   but    pledged    the    Father's    love 

And    pledged  the    Father's    pow'r,  to    turn    e'en    ill,. 

Else    ever    ill    in    all    its    dire    effect, 

To    work    of   good    for    those  who  love    Him.     Lo.r 

Behind    the    every    accident    and    blow 

Tho'  evil    in    its    fall,   stands    He,  our    God, 

Divine    Compeller    in    the    realm    by    man 

Hurled   from   its  fair  intent   through   suff'rance   wise,. 

(He    knoweth    best)  to    keep    His    promise    sure. 

And    thus    it    was    a    sweet,  a    glad    surprise, 

And    glory    so    ineffable   He    gave 

That   we    shall   sometime    say,  k  If  we    had   known  T 

If  we    had    known!'    and    leave    unsaid    the    rest, 

For    lack    of  speech,  tho'    Heavenly,  to   show 

282 


Light   grief,  and  weighty  wealth   of  God's   reward."" 
"  PEMBERTON'S    SURRENDERED!     THE    FIOHTING'S 

DONE, 

THE  WHITE  FLAG'S  OUT,  AND  GRANT  THE  DAY  HAS- 

WON  !" 

Was    shouted;    breaking    in    upon,   the    words- 
Solemn    and    tender,  where    were    hearts    so    sad. 
And    near   the    cave  a  crowd  soon  gathered.     Voice 
Vied    with    voice    the    tidings    great    to    ask  : 

u  How  do  you  know  ?    Where  did  you  hear  it,  pray?-"1 

,\ 
And    answer    came    above    the    noisy    cries: 

'f  It's    ev'rywhere    along   the    front.     Our   boys 
Are    talking    there    from   parapet    to    men, 
They    shot    at    only    yesterday.     Both    sides 
Stand    on    their   breastworks.     On    to-morrow    morn: 
The    entry    of   the    boys    in    blue    will    be 
With    many    a    shout.     The    glorious    'Fourth' 
And    Vicksburg's    fall    will    open  wide  their  throats- 
Hang    Pemberton    for   yielding   on    that    day!" 

283 


And    tearful,  sad,  the    mother's    voice    did    speak: 
4i  O    safety    come    too  late!     ©  innocent! 
Why  must    thy    young    life    sink    beneath    the  blow 
To    fall,    if   ever    it    should    fall,  upon    the    strong!'1 
And    low    and    faint,  yet    heard    from    lines    afar, 
Came   the   wild  cheer,  "Hurrah!    Hurrah!    Hurrah!" 

284 


PART  III.— BOOK  13. 


THE  FOURTH  OF    '63. 
VICKSBURG.  GETTYSBURG. 

ING  for  the  victory  highest  hosanna! 

Sun  in  the  East  kisses  conquering  banner. 

Ring  out  the  shout  over  hill  and  savanna,. 

Swell  ye  the  chorus  in  royalest  manner, 
Sun    in    the    East    kisses    conquering    banner! 
Sing    for    the    victory    highest    hosanna! 
Sun    in    the    West    kisses    conquering    banner. 
Ring    out    the    shout    over    hill    and    savanna, 

285 


'Swell    ye    the    chorus    in    royalest    manner, 
:Sun    in    the    West    kisses    conquering    banner! 

With    victory    East    and    with    victory    West, 
Whom    of  her   sons    shall    the    Land    love  the  best? 
The    heroes    who    stood    like    the    adamant    rock, 
Breasting    the    billow    and    breaking    its    shock, 
•Or   the  heroes   who  swept   like  the  long  chafing  sea, 
Over    barriers    strongest    that    ever    may    be  ? 
With    victory    West    and    with    victory    East, 
Neither,  the   ones    that    she    loveth    the    least. 
With    the    victory    East    with    the    victory    West 
Either,  the    ones    that    she    loveth    the    best. 
Triumph  ?     Ah,  never    shall    triumph    divide, 
United    their    hands    and    their    hearts    shall    abide! 
'Tis    victory    East    and    victory    West, 
'That  thus  may -each  son  serve  his  country  the  best. 


.286 


THE   ENTRY. 

I  list  to  the  tread  of  the  army, 
'Tis  passing  before  mine  eye! 

I  see  where  the  bayonet  flashes, 
And  gaily  the  banners  fly. 

And    yonder    the    great    commander 
Will    lead    to    the    captured    town; 

For    ever    before    his    columns 

The   flags    of  the    foe    come    down. 

There,  too;  is    a    gallant    leader 
Where    march    the    boys    in    blue, 

For    riding    lightly,  proud    and    knightly, 
Is    Logan,  the    tried  and    true.* 

*  Logan's  division  was  one  of  those  which  had  approached  nearest  the 
rebel  works,  and  now  was  the  first  to  enter  the  town.  It  had  been  heavily 
engaged  in  both  assaults,  and  was  fairly  entitled  to  this  honor. — Badeau,  vol. 


The)-    move    from    the    winding    trenches 
That    hug    the    enemy's    throat 

Like    the    tortuous    folds    of   a    serpent, 
O'er    rampart    and    shallow    moat. 

In    front    of   the    grim    guns    threat 'ning 

The    city    so    late    their    toe, 
And    over   the    shot-scarred    greensward 

In    triumph    the    vet'rans    go. 

Lo,  silent    the    enemy's    rifle, 

And    the    battery's    hate    is    dead, 

That    thundered    in    iron    hailstorm, 
Flushing    the    blue    with    red. 

Up,    o'er    the    ridge    to    the    summit, 
With    tread    that    is    soft    and    slow, 

For   sleeping   the    sleep    of   heroes 
Are   the    slain    of  the    charge    below. 

288 


O    Death!    it   was    thy    wave    dashing 
At    foot    of  the    rampart    high, 

That    tossed    as   the    foam    ot    the    billow, 
All    vainly    the    brave    to    die. 

Their    graves    are    but    thy    fixed    billows, 
And    mark    where    the    red    tide    stayed, 

Or    pioneer    host    of   the    army 
Their    claim    to    the    city    laid. 

And    whose    but    their    own    is    the   city 
Now    waiting    the    army's    will  ? 

For  honor  the  highest  forever 
To  heroes  whose  hearts  are  still! 

Lo,  yonder,  with   glitter    and    gleaming, 
At  touch  of  the  morning  sun, 

Stand    waiting    in    mute    surrender 
The    foeman's    flag    and    gun. 

19  289 


Go,  write    on    their    tattered    banners, 
In    the    silent    and    solemn    pause, 

'  Twas    failure,  but    not    of   courage, 
Not    courage,    O    Truth!    but    Cause. 

I    hear    not    the    tread    of  the    army, 
'T  is    gone    from    before    mine    eye, 

But    now    in    the    heart   of  the    city 
The    banners    of  beauty    fly. 

And   swift    is   the   march  to   the   court-house, 

Whose    lofty    defiant    tower 
Must    bloom    with    the    flag    of   the    lathers, 

In    this    the    triumphant    hour! 

Higher,   and    higher,  and    higher! 

'  Till    naught    remains    but    the    sky, 
They    carry    the    flag    of  the    nation, 

To    greet   from    afar    the    eye 


See!    see!    how    it    opens    in    beauty, 

At    touch    of  the    south    wind's    breath! 

.'See!    see    how    it    throbs,  how    it    pulses 
With    life    that    shall    know    no    death. 

Aye!    float    and    forever,  glad    banner! 

The    flag    of  the    father    and    son; 
Till    the    life    of  the    nation    is    ended 

When    the    work    of  the    race    is    done! 

They    come    from    the    fett'ring   siegework, 

Where    long    the    army    lay, 
But    see!    a    host    on    the    river! 

And    whose    is    the    strange    array  ? 
The    sick    come  closing    down  from  the  river's  side. 

In    boats    that    lay    so    long    in    lone    Yazoo, 
The    flag    its    signal    sends    o'er    the    flowing    tide, 
Their   hearts   beat   high   and  strong  with  the  soldier's 
pride, 


And    feel    again   a    strength   to    dare    and    do. 
Hear,  hear    the    shout!     Is    it    low    and    faint  ? 

Yet    it   swells    to    the    distant    sky, 
For  the   strength  they  lost   has  carried  the  flag, 
Till    yonder   its    colors    fly! 

They    come    from    the    lettering    siege-work 

Where    long    the    army    lay; 
But    all — are  they    here    at    the    roll   call, 

Who    were   bravest    amid    the    fray? 

There  are  guards  on  heights  that  silently  wait,  and  will. 

In    broken    line    the    rank    and    the    file    fall    in. 
No   second    relief  shall    ever   their   places    fill; 
On  guard,  on  guard  are  they  for  their  country  still, 
And  faithfully  keep  what   valor  and    life    did    win. 
O    silent    sentries!    but    speaking   yet 

With    a    language    to    thrill    the    heart! 

If  the    good    land    fail    it    must    first    forget 

What    graves    of  its    strength    are    part. 

292 


They   come    from   the    fett'ring   siege-work, 

And    waters    of   lone    Yazoo. 
And    some    are    waiting    the    summons 

To   the    last    and    the    grand    review. 

Dead  ?    On    the    day    remembered 

While   brave    is    the    land    and    free  ? 

O!    speak    not    the   words    of   sorrow, 
But    cleared    be    thine   eye   to    see: 

Lo!    vision    of   snowy    splendor, 
But    clouds    to    the    heavy    eyes, 

— Motionless    ships    at    their    anchor, 
A    fleet    of  the    shoreless    skies,— 

Yet  gathers  the  viewless  army 
From  heights  to  the  river's  side, 

Joining  the  sick  and  the  silent, 
Till  nowhere  their  ranks  divide. 

293 


O    day    of  resplendent    glory! 

Thy  joy    shall    the    brave    not    feel, 
Who    in    the    strife    for    the    city 

Fell    'neath    the    foeman's    steel  ? 

Yet  groweth  that  shadowy  army, 
And  strange  are  the  forms  I  see, 

There,  there  are  the  Continentals! 
Who  made  the  nation  free. 

O    day    of   resplendent    glory  ! 

Thy   joy    shall    the    brave    not    know 
Who    fought    for    their    country's    altars,. 

The    battles    of   long    ago  ? 

Hearts    beating    their    ptean    triumphant,. 

To   welcome    a    nation    born, 
Shall   these    not    a    kindred   rapture 

Feel    on    this    natal    morn  ? 

294 


Morn!     greeting    a    land    delivered, 

That    reeled    'neath    the    ibeman's    stroke. 

Morn!    kissing    the    old    flag    floating 
High    over    the    battle    smoke. 


For    saved    is    the    flag    of  beauty 
Their    willing    hands    unfurled, 

And    saved    is    the    land    they    gave   us, 
Heritage    fair,  for    a    world. 

O    honor    it!     Past    and    Present, 
Day!     when    our    life    begun, 

Day,  binding    anew    the    many, 
The    many   forever    one! 

Day,  high    in    its    consecration, 
That    twice   hath   uplit    the    sky, 

Twice   heralded,  "  lives    a    nation 
Ne'er   suffered    of  God    to    die." 

295 


O    is    it    only    a    fancy. 

The    city    encircled    there 
By    the    threefold    lines    of  an    arm}', 

From    earth    and    the   realms    of  air? 

O    is    it    a    fancy    only, 

Land    loved    tho1    the    heroes    died? 
That    still    they    are    one    with    the    armies 

Here    breasting  the    battle    tide? 

Nay,  nay!    and    our    children's    children, 

To    these    be    the    story    told, 
How    the    true    heart   loves    its    country, 

Nor    death    can    make    love    cold. 

O  tell  them  to  guard  the  future, 
That  its  purpose  may  be  one 

With  ours  this  day  accomplished, 
With  theirs  who  our  life  begun. 

296 


By    the    light    of  these    high    examples 
Strong    be    their    hands    to    do, 

For    still    shall    the    God    of  Nations 
Help,  if  their    hearts    be    true! 

For   this    be   the    certain    token 

t 

To    ages    yet    unborn, 
The    land,  it    shall    live    forever 
That    twice    hath    a    natal    morn. 

But    see!    ah    the    clouds    are    breaking, 
And    Eastward    the    host    is    led ; 

They    gather    their    snow-white    legions 
Where    Gettysburg's    field    is    red! 

For    one    is    the   joy    of  the    Nation, 
Wherever    the   true    hearts    be  ; 

The   West    hath    taken    Vicksburg, 
The    East    hath    conquered    Lee  ! 

297 


With    the    victory    East    and    the    victory    West, 
Whom    of   her    sons    shall    the  Land  love   the  best?' 
The    heroes   who    stood    like    the    adamant    rock 
Breasting    the    billow    and    breaking    its   shock, 
Or  the   heroes   who   swept   like  the   long  chafing  sea 
Over    barriers    strongest    that    ever    may    be  ? 
With    the    victory    West    with    the    victory    East, 
Neither,  the    ones    that    she   loveth    the    least, 
With    the    victory    East    and    the    victory    West, 
Either,  the    ones    that    she    loveth    the    best. 
Triumph  ?     Ah,  never    shall    triumph    divide, 
United    their    hands    and    their    hearts    shall    abide! 
'Tis    victory    East    and    victory    West 
That  thus  may  each  son  serve  his  country  the  best. 


298 


Thus    ours    was    the    gallant    city  I 
Be    it    ours    while    time    shall    be! 

And  the  great,  glad  river  sweep  on  forever 
Unvexed,  to    the    fetterless    sea- 


299 


'Sinjr   for   the   victory  highest  hosanna! " 


